Control over seeds and the collapse of food sovereignty: Haiti in Monsanto’s hands

Fátima Portorreal, Anthropologist.

Four months ago we protested the danger brought on by the shortage of seeds in Haiti in the face of the demand of refugees from the collapse of Haitian cities after the Jan. 12 earthquake.

At that time, there was a proposal to restock with seeds of common local varieties that were well adapted to the tropics. Also, we protested and condemned the presence of Monsanto for its intent to introduce genetically modified seeds, since they affect the biodiversity of many species, weaken local seed production and take strength away from small food producers by controlling the seed market.

Now it is a fact that Monsanto donated «death seeds» to Haitians, genetically altered seeds, a gift that will transform island forests and will produce an ecological and social disaster. This «gift» includes 475 tons of corn, 2,067 kg of vegetable seeds, including cabbage, eggplant, carrot and okra, among others.

In Haiti it is known that this company tried inserting itself in the country through various means, including salaried agents working with the agricultural sector, through fertilizer companies and through people employed by the Preval administration. But the greatest opportunity presented itself October 2009 when a treaty with US-AID was approved. This agreement did not mention the introduction of genetically modified products, it was meant to promote an accord for great agricultural investment and thereby strengthen this sector and especially poor rural communities.

This was important for Monsanto, since it set the ground for it to lay anchor and introduce its death technology. It took adavantage of the economic disaster and famine that came after the quake to promote this macabre gift that threatens not only Haiti’s food sovereignty, but also that of the Dominican Republic.

Monsanto, with US-AID and the Ministry of Agriculture under the WINNER project takes a fundamental step to start planting genetically altered seed in Gonaïves, Kenscoff, Pétion-Ville, Cabaré, Arcahaie, Croix-des-Bouquets and Mirebalais.

The introduction of «Round-up Ready» seeds is not allowed by law, but there is an agreement between the government and the company. The Haitian Ministry of Agriculture plans to sow 65 thousand hectares with the seeds in the departments mentioned above.

Peasant organizations, including Haitian Peasant Movement (MPP), grassroots peasant movements (TET KOLE, PEYIZAM AYISYEN and MPNKP) are opposed to the introduction of genetically modified materials intro Haiti. They, along with Vetenarians without borders, propose to set up a national net to rescue local seeds and to promote the production of organic seeds.

Haitian peasant organizations state that they are opposed to the marketing of genetically altered seeds in the Caribbean. And they reject the genetically altered organisms promoted by the Dominican Secretary of State and the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture.

The introduction of genetically altered organisms into Haiti might affect the market for organic products in both countries through the damage to the natural ecosystems and to biodiversity.

The National Dominican Peasant Organization also denounced that in the DR, they are seeing the introduction of genetically altered tomato and corn seeds in the Azua area, and reject the introduction of genetically altered seeds, since this new technology will make local seeds disappear, will destroy seed management systems will impoverish local producers and will bring to our tables products that can affect the health of those who consume them, provoking allergies and other health problems, as has been seen in Mexico and other countries in the Americas.

We say no to the state agricultural institutions in both countries that compromise our peoples’ food sovereignty. They risk not only the future of our societies, but that of our whole planet.