Zambia sometimes experiences adverse weather – drought, flooding or unfavorable rainfall patterns. Sometimes pests also overwhelm the farmers and cause a substantial reduction in yields, thus affecting the food security of the country. As a result, some have argued that products of gene technology, or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), can address some of the country’s problems of food security.

Crops are genetically modified to enable the plants to tolerate crop spray, which destroy most of the pests without killing the plants. Christopher Simoloka and GenØk are currently doing research at soy beans from the US, to learn more about the consequences GMOs have at environment and health. 

Daphnia feeding with genmodified crops

Small organisms are jumping around in test tubes. – We use Daphnia, Christopher says, a microcrustacea, commonly referred to as water flea. The Daphnia are divided in three groups, fed with organic, genmodified and conventional soya beans, to see how they react.
GMOs are not allowed in Zambia. There are still genmodified crops in the country. The neighboring countries has no statement for GMOs, farmers at the border are therefore more likely to have genmodified crops. Another reason is replanting of seeds from refugee camps.

Mapping genmodified crops in Zambia

Christopher travelled around in Zambia for three months, together with his supervisor, to collect 1300 samples of corn and soy beans before he came to Norway. At GenØk he is analyzing the crops to see whether they are genmodified.  The National Institute For Scientific & Industrial Research, who is his employer in Zambia, wants to map the current situation in the country. Christopher will bring his new knowledge back to Zambia after the exchange period, and continue working with GMO related cases.

Exchange program between China, Zambia, Brazil and Norway

The exchange program between the four research institutions started in 2006. The scientists working in a differend country for a year, learn and teach, and come back to their home organization with new knowledge. – This is benefitial for everyone, says Christopher. GenØk has currently six FK-participants at exchange.

GenØk

GenØk was founded in 1998 and has currently 45 employees, and is a non-commercial foundation located in the research environment at the University of Tromsø and the Science Park. GenØk is engaged in research, teaching and capacity building in the field of “Gene Ecology”, and focuses in particular on the environmental and health related consezuences of the application of gene technology and gene modification.