A number of official reports indicates that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are not essential for feeding the world, but if they were to lead to increased productivity, did not harm the environment and did not negatively impact biodiversity and human health. The fact is that GMO technology would still be owned and controlled by certain very powerful interests. Several scholars strongly argued that, in their hands, this technology is first and foremost an instrument of corporate power, a tool to ensure profit.
Professor Michael Hudson, a well known American Professor in International Economic Relations argued that, American foreign policy has almost always been based on agricultural exports, not on industrial exports as people might think. It’s by agriculture and control of the food supply that American diplomacy has been able to control most of the Third World. Professor Michael Hudson further noted that the Project for a New American Century and the Wolfowitz Doctrine show that United States foreign policy is about power, control and ensuring global supremacy at any cost, and part of the plan for attaining world domination rests on the United States controlling agriculture and hijacking food sovereignty and nations’ food security.
In his book ‘Seeds of Destruction’, William Engdahl traces how the oil-rich Rockefeller family translated its massive wealth into political clout and set out to capture agriculture in the United States and then globally via the ‘green revolution’. GMOs represent more of the same due to the patenting and the increasing monopolisation of seeds by a handful of mainly United States companies, such as Monsanto, DuPont and Bayer.
Findings of a report by researchers at Cambridge University in the UK indicated that in India, Monsanto has sucked millions from agriculture in recent years via royalties, and farmers have been compelled to spend beyond their means to purchase seeds and chemical inputs. The report also indicated that a combination of debt, economic liberalization and a shift to GMO cash crops such as cotton, has caused hundreds of thousands of farmers to experience economic distress, while corporations have extracted huge profits. BBC reported by quoting an official figures as of 2013 that over 270,000 farmers in India have committed suicide since the mid to late nineties.
Agriculture is the bedrock of many societies, yet it is being recast for the benefit of rich agritech, retail and food processing concerns. Official report released by GRAIN recently stated that small farms are under immense pressure and food security is being undermined, not least because the small farm produces most of the world’s food. Whether through land grabs and takeovers, the production of non-food cash crops for export, greater chemical inputs or seed patenting and the eradication of seed sharing among farmers, profits are guaranteed for agritech corporations and institutional land investors.
Vandana Shiva, a noted Indian social activist argued that the dominant notions that underpin economic ‘growth’, modern agriculture and ‘development’ are based on a series of assumption that betray a mindset steeped in arrogance and contempt: the planet should be cast in an urban-centic, ethnocentric model whereby the rural is to be looked down on, nature must be dominated, farmers are a problem to be removed from the land and traditional ways are backward and in need of remedy.
She stated that Western corporations are to implement the remedy by determining policies at the World Trade Organization, IMF and World Bank with help from compliant politicians and officials, in order to depopulate rural areas and drive folk to live in cities to then strive for a totally unsustainable, undeliverable, environment-destroying, conflict-driving, consumerist version of the American Dream.
According to Vandana Shiva, it is interesting and disturbing to note that ‘developing’ nations account for more than 80% of world population, but consume only about a third of the world’s energy. United States citizens constitute 5% of the world’s population, but consume 24% of the world’s energy. On average, one American consumes as much energy as two Japanese, six Mexicans, 13 Chinese, 31 Indians, 128 Bangladeshis, 307 Tanzanians and 370 Ethiopians.
Professor Arundhati Roy of Indonesia stated that despite the environmental and social devastation caused, the outcome is regarded as successful just because business interests that benefit from this point to a growth in GDP. Chopping down an entire forest that people had made a living sustainably from for centuries and selling the timber, selling more poisons to spray on soil or selling pharmaceuticals to address the health impacts of the petrochemical food production model would indeed increase GDP. It’s all good for business. And what is good for business is good for everyone else, or so the lie goes.
Food policy analyst Devinder Sharma adamantly argued that the ‘green revolution’ and now GMOs are ultimately not concerned with feeding the world, securing well-rounded nutritious diets or ensuring health and environmental safety. Biotechnological innovations have always had a role to play in improving agriculture, but the post-1945 model of agriculture has been driven by powerful corporations like Monsanto, which are firmly linked to Pentagon and Wall Street interests. Motivated by self-interest but wrapped up in trendy PR about ‘feeding the world’ or imposing austerity to ensure prosperity, the publicly stated intentions of the United States state-corporate cabal should never be taken at face value.
Devinder Sharma further noted that, in India, Monsanto and Walmart had a major role in drawing up the Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture. Monsanto now funds research in public institutions and its presence and influence compromises what should in fact be independent decision and policy making bodies. According to Devinder Sharma, Monsanto is a driving force behind what could eventually lead to the restructuring and subjugation of India by the United States. The IMF and Monsanto are also working to ensure Ukraine’s subservience to United States geopolitical aims via the capture of land and agriculture.
William Engdahl in the above mentioned book stated that only the completely naive would believe that rich institutional investors in land and big agribusiness and its backers in the United States State Department have humanity’s interests at heart. At the very least, their collective aim is profit. Beyond that and to facilitate it, the need to secure United States global hegemony is paramount.
According to William Engdahl, the science surrounding GMOs is becoming increasingly politicized and bogged down in detailed arguments about whose methodologies, results, conclusions and science show what and why. The bigger picture however is often in danger of being overlooked. GMO is not just about ‘science’. As an issue, GMO and the chemical-industrial model it is linked to is ultimately a geopolitical one driven by power and profit.
Profit, Power and Geopolitics in GMO
Ethiopia’s reform gamble: Learning from Nigeria’s economic turmoil
Ethiopia stands at a critical juncture as it considers implementing sweeping economic reforms similar to those that have recently plunged Nigeria into a severe economic crisis. The cautionary tale of Nigeria’s economic freefall underscores the profound risks associated with such reforms, especially in countries with fragile economies and complex social dynamics. As Ethiopia contemplates floating its currency, the birr, and pursuing other macroeconomic changes under the guidance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it must tread carefully to avoid the pitfalls that have ensnared its West African counterpart.
Nigeria’s experience with floating the naira and reducing fuel subsidies offers a stark warning. What was intended as a path to economic stabilization quickly turned into a nightmare for millions of Nigerians. The abrupt devaluation of the naira led to runaway inflation, skyrocketing the cost of essential goods and services, while the removal of fuel subsidies exacerbated the already dire financial situation for many citizens. The resulting economic hardship has been devastating, with inflation eroding the purchasing power of wages and sparking widespread social unrest. For Ethiopia, which lacks Nigeria’s oil wealth, the consequences of a similar approach could be even more catastrophic.
Ethiopia’s economic challenges are not dissimilar to those faced by Nigeria before its reforms. High inflation, foreign exchange shortages, and unsustainable debt levels are pressing issues that demand urgent attention. The Ethiopian government, under its Homegrown Economic Reform (HGER) agenda, is seeking to address these problems with measures supported by the IMF, including moving to a market-determined exchange rate. However, this approach carries significant risks, particularly for a country already grappling with political instability, security issues, and a fragile industrial sector.
One of the key risks for Ethiopia is the potential impact on its manufacturing and industrial sectors. Like Nigeria, Ethiopia’s industries rely heavily on imported inputs, which could become prohibitively expensive under a market-based exchange rate system. Without adequate measures to strengthen the rule of law and protect businesses, this could further undermine Ethiopia’s industrialization efforts, leading to job losses and worsening economic conditions. Additionally, the uncertainty and volatility that often accompany such currency reforms could deter the foreign investment that Ethiopia desperately needs to modernize its economy.
Another critical concern is the potential for social unrest. The IMF has recognized the importance of expanding social safety nets to cushion the impact of these reforms on vulnerable populations. However, Ethiopia’s history of poor public service delivery and corruption raises doubts about the government’s ability to effectively implement and scale up such programs. If the reforms are perceived as benefiting international creditors at the expense of ordinary Ethiopians, they could fuel widespread discontent and further destabilize the country.
Moreover, Ethiopia’s ongoing political challenges complicate the implementation of these economic reforms. The ruling Prosperity Party faces growing dissent and unrest in various regions, which could make it difficult to push through unpopular but necessary changes. The government must prioritize strengthening the rule of law, improving security, and curbing corruption to build public trust and ensure that the benefits of these reforms are broadly shared.
Ethiopia’s economic reforms must be approached with extreme caution. The government must prioritize measures that protect vulnerable populations and safeguard the country’s nascent industrial sector. Close coordination with international partners and civil society will be crucial to build broad-based support for the reforms and ensure they deliver tangible benefits for all Ethiopians.
The lesson from Nigeria is clear: hasty and ill-conceived economic reforms can have disastrous consequences. Ethiopia cannot afford to repeat these mistakes. The stakes are high, not only for the country’s economic future but for the stability and prosperity of the entire Horn of Africa region. Ethiopia’s leaders must proceed with careful planning, steadfast commitment, and a willingness to tackle entrenched vested interests if they hope to navigate this treacherous path successfully.
Name: Kaleb Zekarias
Education: BA in Accounting
Company Name: Kabod Music Instrument
Title: CEO
Founded in: 2024
What it does: Musical instrument training
Headquarters: Alem Bank
Startup capital: 50,000 birr
Current capital: Growing
Number of Employees: 2
Reason for Starting the business: To achieve my childhood dream
Biggest perk of ownership: Freedom
Biggest strength: Easy communication with people and self-confidence
Biggest challenge: Finance to buy training equipment
Plan: Making the training we provide available in other areas
First Career: None
Most interested in meeting: PM Abiy Ahmed
Most admired person: Musician Joseph
Stress reducer: Praying
Favorite book: None
Favorite pastime: Going to church
Favorite destination: Canada
Favorite automobile: Ford
Joining hands to advance modernization and build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future
By Ambassador Hu Changchun
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held recently. The plenum adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization which marks a new chapter on a new journey of pushing forward Chinese modernization. The Plenum put forward more than 300 important reform initiatives, making it clear that China will remain committed to the basic state policy of opening to the outside world, promote reform through opening up, and develop new institutions for a higher-standard open economy.
Chinese modernization, one of the keywords of the plenum, has become a “hot phrase” widely and spiritedly discussed by African friends. How will it influence the world and Africa? What will it bring to China-Africa relations and Africa’s development? I would like to share my views in this regard:
Advancing Chinese Modernization will bring new opportunities to the world for common development and prosperity. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, China’s continuous expansion of opening up has not only developed itself, but also benefited the world. In the first half of 2024, China’s GDP grew by 5%, reaching 61.7 trillion RMB Yuan, making 30 percent contribution to global economic growth. The total import and export volume of goods stood at 21.2 trillion RMB Yuan, with the international market share of exports and imports ranking the world first and second respectively for 15 consecutive years. In 2023, China-Africa trade volume hit a historical peak of 282.1 billion US dollars. China remains as Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
It was stated at the plenum that opening up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. China will steadily expand institutional opening up, optimize the layout for regional opening up, and improve the mechanisms for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. By leveraging the strengths of its super-sized domestic market, China will enhance its opening up capacity while expanding cooperation with other countries to develop new institutions for a higher-standard open economy. By further deepening reform and pursuing high-standard opening up to galvanize Chinese modernization, China will integrate itself into the global economy more proactively. In this great process, China will provide more market, investment and growth opportunities to all countries, delivering more benefits to the world.
Advancing Chinese Modernization will inject new impetus to the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. In its relationship with Africa, China has always adhered to the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. Over the years, China has helped Africa build a large amount of connectivity infrastructure, carried out extensive cooperation with the AU and subregional organizations, and assisted the construction of several signature Pan-African projects, including the AU Conference Center and the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Landmark infrastructure projects such as the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, and the Lekki Port have boosted the flow of people and goods. Hybrid rice, Qinghao (the herb for extracting the anti-malaria artemisinin) and Juncao (plant for edible mushroom farming), known as “the three Chinese grasses”, have helped many Africans get rid of poverty. On the occassion of China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue in August 2023, President Xi Jinping announced three proposals, namely, the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization and thePlan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development, which help Africa bring its integration and modernization onto a fast track.
China is pursuing the great rejuvenation of the nation through Chinese modernization. Africa is moving steadily toward the bright prospects envisioned in Agenda 2063. China is willing to work with African countries and the African Union to explore effective paths that are consistent with Africa’s own conditions while maintaining independence to pursue common development and revitalization. Let’s join hands to advance modernization and make concerted efforts to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
Advancing Chinese Modernization will generate new expectations of stability in a turbulent world. It was stressed in the plenum that Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. China is dedicated to promoting a community with a shared future for mankind, and will stay committed to the common values of all humanity, pursue the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. China calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. To foster a favorable external environment for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, China will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests.
When pushing forward modernization, China always seeks innovations in following the path of peaceful development. China advocates the peaceful settlement of international disputes through consultation and dialogue. Last year, China facilitated the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Last month, the Palestinian factions held talks in Beijing and agreed to end division for reconciliation. The African Union has always been playing an important role in mediating hotspot issues in Africa, leading African countries to work unremittingly toward the goal of “Silencing the Guns”, making great contributions to safeguarding a peaceful and secure global environment. China is ready to work with Africa to implement the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, advocate the resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue and cooperation, facilitate the political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues so as to safeguard world peace and stability.
In the beginning of the coming September, the new FOCAC summit will be held in Beijing. Leaders from China and Africa will gather again and draw up new plans for our future development. It is a substantially important event in China-Africa relationship, as well as a big gathering that both sides are keenly looking forward to. I am confident that China and Africa will carry forward the traditional friendship, enhance solidarity and coordination, and bolster the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. As we join hands to advance modernization, we will deliver a better future for the Chinese and African people, and set a fine example in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind!
Ambassador Hu Changchun is Head of Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the African Union and Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the UNECA
