Mozambique accepts US GM food donation

Mozambique is accepting a shipment of genetically modified food aid from the US in an attempt to ease the country's hunger crisis.

The country had previously expressed concern about taking the GM corn because growing it could result in unknown consequences for local agriculture.

But after negotiations, they agreed to accept the food stuffs as long as it was milled immediately, so it could not be planted.

An estimated 12.8 million people in six countries in southern Africa are threatened with starvation this year.

About 4,500 tons of corn have been unloaded at Maputo's port and are to be processed at a nearby factory.

Some 300,000 people in the country face starvation due to drought and massive flooding during the past two years which wiped acres of cropland.

The agriculture ministry has dispatched experts to the affected regions to evaluate how much food aid is needed.

Most of the corn produced in the United States is genetically modified to produce higher yields and protect against pests.

The US government has pledged $98m (€99.4m) worth of grain to help alleviate hunger in the region, by far the largest donation.