Q8: What is Oxfam’s view on the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in agriculture / GMO foods?

A: So far, GMOs have not delivered on earlier promises of yield growth and have not transformed the livelihoods of smallholder agriculture. The obsession of some to focus on ‘silver bullet solutions’ and technical quick fixes such as GMO, whilst attractive to agribusiness, ignores the broader and much more important problem of chronic under investment in, and pervasive marginalization of, smallholder agriculture by governments, international agencies and the private sector.

This is not to say that GM will never deliver and has no role to play. However there are many other options which are proven to increase the productive capacity of smallholder agriculture which should be prioritized.