HO CHI MINH CITY— When Vietnam moved
economically from communism to capitalism in the 1980s, it enjoyed an
agriculture boom that lifted millions from poverty. But today, new trade
deals could threaten Vietnamese farmers, who are considering using
genetically modified seeds to stay competitive.
In the water, the soil and the genes of newborns, Vietnamese people believe the chemical Agent Orange still endures 40 years after it was sprayed to kill plants in the Vietnam War.
Duong Thi Thanh Ha said that’s why she doesn’t forgive chemical producers Monsanto and Dow.
Today the companies sell genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. But because of the war history, Ha doesn’t want these companies to bring their products to Vietnam.
“We don’t believe them because they already create the Orange Agent to kill our Vietnamese people. Don’t one word say apologize. So we doubt. The guy is not a good guy. So how can they create something good for the human?” she said.
The decades-old resentment adds baggage to an already heated debate as Vietnam considers using GMOs on its fields. Farmers have been essential to transforming this communist country into a powerhouse exporter. But yields have stagnated in recent years, and farmers don’t know if they can compete with more foreign growers as new free trade deals start to take effect.
GMOs could help, said Tran Dinh Long, chair of the Vietnamese Seed Association. He believes planting genetically modified seeds could improve productivity, so that Vietnam can become a self-sufficient grower. But he wants farmers to look beyond GMOs, too, and adopt high-tech farming methods so they can compete
“Technology is not advanced enough yet, human resources aren't great yet, and capital is low, so we'll definitely be depending on foreigners. But if we want to increase our competitiveness, then we have to use high tech at an international level,” said Long.
Consumers are not sure about what to make of lab-modified seeds. Chung Hoang Chuong said he is skeptical of all the money GMO companies spend to lobby politicians. He also worries about the risks — for his health, and for the environment.
MORE
In the water, the soil and the genes of newborns, Vietnamese people believe the chemical Agent Orange still endures 40 years after it was sprayed to kill plants in the Vietnam War.
Duong Thi Thanh Ha said that’s why she doesn’t forgive chemical producers Monsanto and Dow.
Today the companies sell genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. But because of the war history, Ha doesn’t want these companies to bring their products to Vietnam.
“We don’t believe them because they already create the Orange Agent to kill our Vietnamese people. Don’t one word say apologize. So we doubt. The guy is not a good guy. So how can they create something good for the human?” she said.
The decades-old resentment adds baggage to an already heated debate as Vietnam considers using GMOs on its fields. Farmers have been essential to transforming this communist country into a powerhouse exporter. But yields have stagnated in recent years, and farmers don’t know if they can compete with more foreign growers as new free trade deals start to take effect.
GMOs could help, said Tran Dinh Long, chair of the Vietnamese Seed Association. He believes planting genetically modified seeds could improve productivity, so that Vietnam can become a self-sufficient grower. But he wants farmers to look beyond GMOs, too, and adopt high-tech farming methods so they can compete
“Technology is not advanced enough yet, human resources aren't great yet, and capital is low, so we'll definitely be depending on foreigners. But if we want to increase our competitiveness, then we have to use high tech at an international level,” said Long.
Consumers are not sure about what to make of lab-modified seeds. Chung Hoang Chuong said he is skeptical of all the money GMO companies spend to lobby politicians. He also worries about the risks — for his health, and for the environment.
MORE
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