Posts | Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity

Securing equitable farmer support and the transition from the Farm Input Subsidy Programme in Zambia

We are pleased to share with you this discussion paper, co-published by the African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB). In Zambia, as in many other African countries, decisions related to food production and consumption increasingly lie outside the control of those responsible and accountable for food and nutrition security at both household and national level. Farmer support is almost entirely directed at subsidising smallholder uptake of Green Revolution (GR) technologies, which is based on the flawed claim that if farmers can access […]

PRESS RELEASE, 07/03/2019

PRESS RELEASE, 07/03/2019 There is public outcry over news that the ban on GMO food in Zambia has been lifted. Questions were raised as to “whether the ban on the importation of Genetically Modified Organisms food stuffs (GMOs) is still in effect” in The National Assembly on 27 February 2019. According to the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), by presence of the Biosafety Act 2010, imported food containing processed products of GM crops, are allowed into Zambia, as long as they go through a strict application […]

Ongoing national concerns; consuming GMOs without consultation and changing policy spaces

PRESS RELEASE, 27/02/2019 The ZAAB has been engaging with the NBA and governing ministry regarding GMOs since 2010. Major concerns at the time were: unregulated and unlabeled imported food containing GMOs; the lack of institutional capacity and funding to adequately address the wide range of issues and challenges related to modern biotechnology use; and the increasing foreign lobby push for Zambia to change its non-GMO position. The NBA have worked hard to better regulate imported processed foods containing GMOs and enhance public communication. Given the […]

Joint CSO statement on the weakening of Zambia’s bio-safety standards-11/01/2019

ATT: P.S Ministry of Higher Education Maxwell house, Los Angeles Boulevard P.O Box 50464, Lusaka, Zambia C.C: P.S. Ministry of Agriculture P.S Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries P.S Ministry of Justice P.S Ministry of Commerce P.S Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Honorable Members of Parliament House of Chiefs Dear Sir / Madam, Zambia Must Continue To Uphold The Highest Biosafety Standards Zambia’s approach to the use Modern Biotechnology[1] and the use of genetic engineering in the food and agriculture system has rested on the […]

Zambia supports the global call for a moratorium on Gene Drive releases- Press Release 15/11/2018

The citizens of Zambia, have repeatedly stated their absolute objection to Modern Biotechnology and the production of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Today, this position is reiterated as we support the global call for a moratorium on Gene Drive releases, including applied research such as open field trial releases, until there is further understanding of the potential risks and technical issues. We request our National Representatives to do the same at the upcoming 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on […]

ATT: Representatives of the people of Zambia to the Convention of Biological Diversity-14/11/2018

Dear representatives of the people of Zambia to the Convention of Biological Diversity, We wish you well in your travels to Egypt and the critical negotiations you will undertake on behalf of the citizens of Zambia. We understand the nature of the discussions at this year’s CBD COP will be highly controversial and critical in determining the future course of humanity’s use and manipulation of genetic resources – and in turn – the impact of nature on humanity. Of particular concern to us, are […]

Zambia’s Position on GMOs and the Revised Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy of 2003 March 2018-7/03/2018

Zambia must continue to uphold the highest biosafety standards Zambia’s approach to biosafety since the development of the Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy of 2003 has been cautious and aimed at ensuring high standards of human, environmental and socio-economic well-being. We are alarmed that the biotech industry is eroding this approach in favour of promoting and protecting the interests of that industry. We reject this shift. Key concerns in the revised policy include: Abandoning the precautionary principle in favour of creating incentives for innovation for industry. […]

Welcome to the new ZAAB website!

We have walked a celebrated journey together to come to this point today. Seven years ago, four organisations and concerned individuals came together in common concern: the weakening of the Zambian biosafety legislation and an equitable food and agriculture future for all in Zambia. From our 2010 roots in a common advocacy voice, the civil society alliance has grown in membership and scope of work. Today the ZAAB network has 16 organisational members, local and regional associates and a broad individual membership base. The launch […]

GMO’s are not the way to go for Zambia

A fact sheet from the Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB) on the concerns surrounding genetically modified organisms and Zambia’s changing approach. ZAAB Factsheet_Zambia position on GMOs_2018

CSO’s comments on the proposed revision of the 2003 Zambian Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy- 4/12/2017

To whom it may concern, Please find from the Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB) some comments on the draft revised Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy, as made available to the National Biosafety Authority, The Governing Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, and concerned stakeholders of Zambia. The comments follow the short notice “Stakeholder Consultative Meeting on the Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy”, that three ZAAB representatives participated in, held 25-26 September 2017 in Livingstone. We trust that these written comments will further submissions made […]