| The condition of extreme poverty and hunger in the world has attracted global dimensions in the 21st century and has gained the foremost priority in the Millennium Development Goals.This hunger is critical in low-income and food-deficient countries in Sub-Saharan Africa whereby about 70%of the population comprises small-scale farmers.There could be many factors to account for the shortage of food in most developing countries in the African continent.However,one can attribute the weak performance of the agricultural sector in Africa as being largely responsible for the slow pace towards poverty reduction and food security needs,coupled with environmental and institutional challenges that have impacted negatively on agricultural output growth in the region.The population of Tanzania is approximately 44.9 million and currently growing at a rate of 2.1%on average(doubling of population approximately every 34 years).By 2050 the population is expected to double,reaching 89.8 million people.The increase in population may pose serious challenges to poverty and food insecurity concerns.For years now,scientists,politicians,civil society activists,and diverse human aid organizations have been trying to come up with a concrete solution to the problem of food shortage and starvation.Judging from the amount of foods produced by and in developed countries,it would appear that the problem of starvation in Tanzania and in other less developed countries is not a difficult one to solve.It is common knowledge that food resources around the globe are adequate to feed every human being in need.The problem is thought to lie in the way food is distributed and financial constraints to the poor masses to be able to buy the food they need.As an alternative solution,genetic engineering of crops has been proposed to be a concrete solution to the problem of food shortage and starvation.But again,given the disputes and debates around genetically modified foods,one realizes that this solution has opponents and advocates.This means that the adoption of genetically modified foods is not free from the debate in relation to the benefits and risks.Many believe that GM foods can offer a remedy to food scarcity(welfare increase or right to life),while others are concerned with safety(value of safety or security to life).The conflicting positions concerning the advantages or disadvantages of genetically modified foods are the basis of this research.And the basic question is:From the perspective of ethics of technology,what kind of ethical principles should we adopt in making choices in the face of uncertainties in the safety and risks of genetically modified crops?Or what choices can be justified?This dissertation believes that whether large-scale cultivation of genetically modified crops should be carried out in Africa should take into account the specific situation in Africa,taking into account the public's attitude and acceptability to genetically modified crops.The simple application of some established normative ethical principles,be it deontological or utilitarian,or discourse ethics,can be inadequate in addressing the complex realities and issues that arise in practice in Africa.Because in spite of the efforts made by African governments to adopt the genetically modified technology,they continue to face a low level of acceptance by society in adopting the technology due to safety,ethical and environmental reasons.According to the 2011 assessment on agriculture biotechnology in Africa commissioned by the International Food Policy Research Institute(2012)financed by the African Development Bank(ADB),the safety record of the technology suggests that the process of genetic modification,by itself,possesses no significant risk to human health/environment.However,the level of misinformation,inadequate knowledge/awareness about bio-technology in African countries is extraordinarily high.Issues of complex systems of laws and regulations came out as limiting factors behind the actual introduction of GM technology.Given the mixed public perception towards modern agricultural biotechnology and the slow pace of African countries to improve the agricultural sector using the new tools of bio-technology,it is prudent to undertake a study on the conditions necessary for feasibility and acceptability(awareness,perception)including the perception of trust in the capacity of government in the handling of GMOs as well as ethical issues relating to GM foods in Tanzania.Therefore,the general purpose of this study was to investigate the empirical and theoretical conditions necessary for accepting and adopting GM foods in Tanzania.Specifically,the study sought to:(?)Evaluate relevant philosophical and ethical theories on technology adoption in general and that of GM foods technology particularly in Tanzania;(?)Examine the feasibility and acceptability as a new philosophical approach in the adoption of GM foods technology in Tanzania;(?)Determine the level of public awareness/knowledge and perception towards the risks and benefits of GM foods technology in Tanzania by means of administering survey questionnaire technique;(?)Provide some recommendations to the body of theory,practice,and policy for improving the feasibility and acceptability of GM foods in Tanzania.This is relevant in guiding the future stability of modern agricultural bio-technology.The first theme indicate key findings that are summarized as follows:(?)Utilizing the analysis of arguments based on theoretical support from deontological views by Immanuel Kant and advanced by Hans Jonas are not sufficient to address the risks and dangers of modern technology,because when we assess the applicability of the theory to the issue of GMF,this author argues that Kant values dignity,but humans need to be alive first in order to lead a life of dignity.Dignity may not take superiority over survival.The issue of GMF in Africa involves human survival.Therefore,Kant's theory and Jonas's theory which has roots in Kant may not be the best for analyzing this situation of GMF in Africa particularly Tanzania.(?)Findings also indicate that utilitarianism is a potential source towards increased adoption of GM foods as it seeks to consider benefits and risks.This author observed that the calculus of the utilitarian approach is incomplete in the evaluation of benefits and risks including the future unknown on benefits and risks.In addition,although there is uncertainty involved in GMF,there may also be opportunities,for addressing the problem of hunger and rapid population growth in Africa.(?)Findings further reveal that the objective of technology is to improve human skills as well as to promote social welfare,people's participation and democratic procedures for choice.Habermas,in his discourse ethics,laid out the ideal conditions for the decision making.However,his theory of discourse ethics describes the ideal(e.g.,discourse without authority)rather than the reality.Therefore,there appeared to be a divergence of theory and reality because his ideal is different from the reality in Africa.Hence,this particular theory also appeared not adequate for answering the question whether GMF ought to be pursued in Tanzania.In the second theme,key findings indicate that,feasibility and acceptability,which originates from the Aristotlerian practical wisdom through its elements such as analysis of the benefits and risks of GM foods,analysis of real possibility of implementation,the economic capability analysis,the analysis of the technical aspects and availability of technical skills needed for GM foods technology,could be a useful approach to determine the necessary ingredients to increase feasibility and acceptability of GM technology in Tanzania with reflections on deliberation,moderation,and perception as the major constitutive elements of Aristotle's practical wisdom.The third theme indicates generally that there exists the reasonable level of awareness of GMOs(crops,foods)in Tanzania with a proportion of 49.1%and is below that of the study in Ghana(64%),Kenya(82%),and Europe(84%),as provided for in the literature review,regulatory authorities having the highest awareness level.On the contrary,farmers had the lowest awareness level.The result further indicates that the conditions such as education and functioning to adopt GM technology in Tanzania are limited.An important aspect of this finding is the provision of empirical confirmation to supporting or not supporting the theoretical basis.This findings revealed important inferences not only for policy-makers in Tanzania but also for development organizations that are assisting in the growth process of modern agricultural biotechnology in Sub-Saharan African as well as other developing countries to address issues of limited information,participation,education,gender and unclear regulations in the hope to aid increased feasibility and acceptability towards GM foods.Given the fact that there is the mixed public perception and tension raised regarding the risks and benefits of GM foods technology,this author therefore recommends that the robust involvement of the society and allow them to engage in open-minded debates and discussion on issues relating to genetically modified technology in Africa;this may potentially increase the feasibility and adoption of the technology.Also this author recommends that African countries particularly Tanzania must engage in conducting a feasibility study by assessing the key elements of feasibility and acceptability such as the analysis of the benefits and risks of GM foods,analysis of real possibility of implementation,the economic capability analysis,the analysis of the technical aspects and availability of technical skills needed before accepting GM foods technology.Hence,the tension between the risks and benefits of GM technology can best be comprehended and moderated by individual and society with the relevant education,skills,and knowledge to participate in such technology and ability to function well in this direction.In this regard,this author supports genetically modified technology on the grounds of poverty reduction,hunger minimization,increased agricultural productivity,and food security for the billions of the African population particularly Tanzania.Also,humans need to be alive first in order to lead a life of dignity.Therefore,dignity may not take superiority over survival.This study is relevant because it presents some philosophical and ethical foundations which constitute the theoretical framework for assessing modern technology in general,and specifically,the feasibility and acceptability of GM foods in Africa particularly Tanzania.This study also is relevant to the existing literature by providing an empirical analysis using descriptive statistics in determining the level of public awareness and perception towards GM foods in Tanzania.These are a necessary condition for aiding GM foods feasibility and acceptability.This study moreover employs comparative analysis with existing studies on GM foods issues to provide a broader understanding to the readers,academicians,and policymakers including governments and practitioners to make informed decisions on issues relating to public opinion and attitudes about GM foods.Furthermore,in order to achieve sustainable development,it is necessary that the government of Tanzania and interested parties working towards sustainable development with a view to increased GM foods adoption in Tanzania and Africa may entail effective analysis of the possible alternatives in the assessment of the needs of the current generations as well as the future generations.This can be realized through active involvement of civil society,the participation of the public in governance issues relating to the potential benefits and risks of GM technology.Finally,this study is relevant since it provides some policy implications for promoting public consciousness,perception,and the development of common regulatory policies of bio-technology in Africa that will take into account the right mix of ethical considerations on the environmental,health,and safety issues of GM foods in Tanzania.This author believes policymakers should continue to ensure freedom to deliberate well and effective participation and coordination in the hope to improve and promote the development of feasibility and acceptability of GM foods in Tanzania. |
PDF Full Text Request