Food documentary excites students
Oct 07, 2017
A GMO is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal
Students arrive at Century Cinemax
The first thing that springs to mind when one hears that students are going to Century Cinemax is, most probably watching entertainment and lifestyle movies. Not a food movie.
This, however, was not the case when students from universities such as Makerere and some secondary schools flocked the Acacia Mall based Century Cinemax for the Food Evolution post documentary.
The discussion that happened yesterday was organised by Uganda Biosciences Information Centre (UBIC). UBIC is the information hub under the National Agricultural Research Organisation.
"Food Evolution" narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator demystifies genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and points on success such as Hawaiian papayas and Ugandan bananas, which were saved from devastating viruses.
A GMO is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal.
Students while watching the movie
The documentary also rebuts their arguments, including reports that suggest GMOs lead to a rise in farmers' suicide rates and an increase in pesticide use.
The movie discussion comes following the Wednesday's passing of the National Biotechnology and Bio-safety Bill, which among other things seek to control the transporting, exporting and importing the GMOs.
The students mostly the biotechnology ones were seen nodding their heads. "I have learnt that biotechnology is good to the extent that it can even produce plants that are able to adapt harsh conditions like drought.
We should also be able to adopt the GMOs so that we save our crops from dying away," says Dennis Kwizera, a second year student at Makerere University.
"I have learnt that consumption of GM organisms such as plants by people is not dangerous to their health.
"There is mixing of genes from different organisms, but this new technology so scientists should spend more time in disseminating the information about their usage," said another university student identified as Doreen Gumoshabe.