{"id":225058,"date":"2020-07-26T12:48:36","date_gmt":"2020-07-26T16:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=225058"},"modified":"2020-07-26T12:53:31","modified_gmt":"2020-07-26T16:53:31","slug":"cuba-opens-door-to-gm-crops-amid-food-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/economy\/cuban-economy\/cuba-opens-door-to-gm-crops-amid-food-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba opens door to GM crops amid food crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cuba officially opened this Thursday the door to transgenic crops as a \u201ccomplement to conventional agriculture,\u201d in the midst of a food crisis and shortages now worsened by the <\/span>coronavirus<\/span><\/a> health emergency.<\/span><\/p>\n

The island, where work is underway to obtain genetically modified seeds since 2008, will apply this alternative to maize and soybeans, among other foods, which could also include sugarcane in search of a variety resistant to the effects of climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCuba is seeking to use this technology for the purposes of sustainable development and not with practices that in other contexts have had an environmental impact,\u201d said the deputy minister of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), Armando Rodr\u00edguez.<\/span><\/p>\n

The decree law of the National Commission for the Use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Cuban Agriculture, published in the island\u2019s <\/span>Gaceta Oficial<\/span><\/i>, regulates the \u201ccontrolled inclusion\u201d and the research, development, production, use, import and export of GMO.<\/span><\/p>\n

This provision will ensure that the application of this technology \u201chas an adequate risk assessment, following the principles of precaution, transparency in handling, communication of information and ethical-scientific responsibility,\u201d Deputy Minister Rodr\u00edguez explained to the <\/span>Cubadebate<\/span><\/a>\u00a0official website.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cuba imports more than 80% of the food consumed by its 11.2 million inhabitants. The chronic shortage the Caribbean country has suffered for decades has now been aggravated by the COVID-19 health crisis, which has emptied the shelves of state stores and complicated the supply of basic foodstuff.<\/span><\/p>\n

The state agricultural collection system that establishes that farmers sell most of their crops exclusively to the state has also been ineffective in guaranteeing the supply and distribution of food.<\/span><\/p>\n

Given this situation, Cuban leaders have urged\u2015as in other crises in the past\u2015to increase and diversify local food production to reduce dependence on imports.<\/span><\/p>\n

Del surco a la mesa: quitar trabas y trabadores de la producci\u00f3n de alimentos en Cuba<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n