As a result of a (later retracted) study linking GMO consumption to cancer in rats, Kenya banned the importation and production of genetically modified foods (GMOs) in 2012. The move caused quite a bit of controversy. Environmentalists had been pushing the country to restrict or ban their importation for sometime. In 2012, they got their wish.

A virus was recently discovered among the corn crops in over half of the farms in the country, which has prompted a large chorus of experts, policymakers and the Kenyans farmer trade association to call for the ban to be lifted. The significance of corn is that it is a mainstay among Kenyan cuisine and with a virus infecting over half of the country’s maize crop and with the potential for famine outbreaks it has spurned the search for alternatives. Fortunately, people close to the issue in Kenya indicate the ban maybe lifted.

Despite the lack of a scientific basis, it has not stopped environmentalist groups from seeking their restriction if not outright prohibition. As a result of their being outlawed it was reported in 2008, GMO prohibitions have resulted in famines and starvations in the developing world. Unfortunately, the threat of famines it has not prevented countries from prohibiting GMO foods. Zimbabwe banned bio-tech foods despite the threat of mass starvations among its populace.

Despite their claims, environmentalist opposition to GMO’s is not based on science, but on their ardent belief that man should not bend nature (i.e. play God) in order to improve it to suit his needs. The result, if nature is changed, would be a calamity. Since no evidence exists of any disaster from changing nature, environmentalists resort to mass hysteria and fear in order to convince people to reject a successful technology that not only feeds people but saves lives.

In the United States, anti-GMO activists resort to banning bio-tech foods by requiring labels. They would contain intimidating messages on them to steer consumers clear of GMO’s despite the human need of food to live and survive. I think the opponents of GMO’s instead should be the ones required to wear warning labels due to the hazard they pose to everyone else’s health.