Thirdly, these countries do not want or need GM crops, but this technology is nonetheless being forced upon them as part of agricultural aid programmes and trade agreements. Their herbicides had only one marketing limitation which was that they could not be used when crops were growing. Genetically engineering herbicide tolerance into the crops, which could then be patented, has effectively lifted this restriction giving the industry an unprecedented opportunity not only to sell their herbicides in greater amounts, but also to control the food chain from its source by supplying the seeds. To make sure this happened the industry has made it their business to buy up seed companies as well. Thus a genetically engineered seed never comes on its own, it comes with a patent, a contract, harmful chemicals, and a chain of dependence.
Corporate control has one ultimate aim, profit for shareholders.
There are far more attractive alternatives for world food security which the western countries, if they really want to help, should support. In Kenya, low external input and intensive organic systems are proving to out-perform any GM scenario. These organic systems not only build up the quality of the soil and balance the ecology, they also build up local economies and provide wide safety margins for unpredictable weather with rich biodiversity. Most importantly they engage the creative intelligence of the farmer and keep his dialogue with the land alive. The science of these life-giving alternatives goes far deeper than GM technologies because they have managed to get nature to work for them in a sustainable way.