Zambian Vice President Inonge Wina has ruled out importing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) despite the nation’s uncertain outlook for maize production.

“We will not import GMO foods,” Wina told Parliament when it resumed sitting. This comes as the food security outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, looks grim due to climatic changes and crop pest infestations.

Also read: Museveni declines to sign new Uganda GMO bill into law

Zambia maintains that the risk GMOs pose are still unknown, and that they may have unforeseeable environmental, social and health impacts.

Debate about whether GMOs are the answer to food security for a large, fast growing population and environmental challenges has intensified. A number of influential development donors see the technology as a solution to the above mentioned problems.

Also read: Donors promote GM as solution to food security challenges

Greenpeace and Fairtrade anchor the opposition. They both argue the promotion of GMO crops represents a corporate takeover of food systems coupled by unknown hazards.

Also read: COMESA urges for consensus on GMOs in Africa