A molecular geneticist from King’s College London has challenged the scientific basis for deploying genetically modified crops in Africa, arguing that current regulatory frameworks fail to account for significant health risks demonstrated in animal studies.
Professor Michael Antoniou, head of the Gene Expression and Therapy Group at King’s College London School of Medicine, appeared on Episode 14 of “The Battle for African Agriculture,” the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa’s (AFSA) podcast hosted by Dr. Million Belay. The episode examines the contested science behind genetic modification and its implications for the continent’s food systems.
Antoniou, who uses genetic engineering for medical applications but opposes its use in agriculture, drew a sharp distinction between the two domains. He explained that while clinical gene therapies operate under strict containment and regulation, genetically modified crops enter the environment despite being imprecise and unpredictable in their effects.
The geneticist outlined three primary health concerns arising from his research: Bt insecticidal proteins engineered into plants that may trigger immune and digestive problems; high residues of associated pesticides such as glyphosate found in herbicide tolerant crops; and unintended DNA damage from the genetic modification process itself, which can create novel toxins or allergens.
Antoniou has published peer reviewed research demonstrating that a widely grown GM maize variety is not substantially equivalent to its non GM counterpart, challenging a key regulatory assumption. His studies using advanced molecular profiling methods have revealed significant compositional differences between modified and conventional crops, including elevated levels of compounds that can produce toxic effects.
The professor rejected narratives promoting GMOs as necessary to address African food security. He cited Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Bank data indicating global food production already exceeds requirements for 14 billion people, arguing that hunger stems from poverty and access barriers rather than insufficient supply. He noted that GM crops have not increased inherent yields but have instead driven up herbicide use and created farmer dependency on corporate controlled systems of patented seeds and chemicals.
Antoniou referenced his report for the Mexican government, which documented evidence of organ and immune damage in laboratory animals and contributed to that country’s restrictions on GM corn imports. He warned that newer stacked trait crops, combining multiple Bt toxins with resistance to several herbicides, heighten risks because they have never received proper safety testing despite evidence of harm from earlier single trait varieties.
The geneticist concluded that agroecology and farmer managed seed systems represent the true path to climate resilience and food sovereignty, describing genetic fixes as approaches from a previous era. He emphasized that small scale African farmers practicing diverse, independent agriculture are already demonstrating viable alternatives.
“The Battle for African Agriculture” launched in August 2025 as AFSA’s flagship media initiative. The weekly series features conversations with scientists, activists, and policymakers examining what AFSA describes as colonial legacies in African food systems while promoting agroecological solutions rooted in justice, biodiversity, and food sovereignty.
Dr. Belay, AFSA’s General Coordinator and a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, has positioned the podcast as a counter narrative to industrial agricultural models. New episodes release every Friday on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS feeds.
AFSA represents farmers’ organizations, non governmental organization networks, consumer movements, and small scale producers across more than 50 African countries, with a combined potential reach of 200 million people. The podcast receives support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and TROCAIRE.
