Feature story - December 8, 2004
MUMBAI, India — Genetic Engineering techniques allow scientists to transfer genes from one organism to another, in order to create new organisms that have a desired characteristic. For instance resistance to pests, increased vitamin content, resistance to climatic conditions etc. Sounds great, but is it?
'Green Santa' talks to Bangalore consumers, enlisting their support in the campaign against GE Rice
What is GE technology? And why the concern about GE Rice?
Agrochemical companies and some government agencies are
conducting field trials of many Genetically Engineered crops -
including food crops. Greenpeace is vehemently opposing the
introduction of these crops, especially GE Rice. Genetic
Engineering techniques allow scientists to transfer genes from one
organism to another, in order to create new organisms that have a
desired characteristic. For instance resistance to pests, increased
vitamin content, resistance to climatic conditions etc. Sounds
great, but is it?
To find the answer, we need to look for international examples
where GE food has been introduced. Why is it that Europe will not
feed its people GM food? People were furious when they were
realized they had been buying and eating taco shells that
'accidentally' contained genetically engineered corn with a gene
that was certified unfit for human consumption because it had the
potential to cause allergic reactions.
Agrochemical companies tell us that GE technology can solve
India's hunger problem but the truth is that only better management
of food distribution will do so. Our food granaries are bursting
with grain. The poor just need access to food. Why are corporations
hell bent on forcing upon us a high-risk solution to a non-existent
problem?
These companies also tell us that GE rice supposedly enriched
with Vitamin A will solve vitamin deficiencies, but research shows
that the rice contains such miniscule amounts of Vitamin A that a
growing child will need to consume nine kilos of this rice everyday
to meet her daily vitamin requirements!
Contrary to another myth proffered by the same companies, GE
crops do not reduce the need for pesticides, nor have they
increased farmer incomes. As the experience with BT cotton in India
has shown, pests quickly gain resistance to GE crops too, and
negate the very raison d'etre of GE. Also, most GE crops are
targeted towards a specific pest and while the GE crop may be able
to repel this pest for a while, farmers are soon forced to use
pesticides anyway as secondary pests take over.
Studies of the potential ecological risks of GE rice also show
that there is a high risk of 'transgene escape' (exchange of
genetic material) from GE rice to non-GE rice varieties. The danger
is that these GE crops can contaminate indigenous varieties like
Basmati causing India to lose valuable export markets in
Europe.
The question we Indians need to ask is: what's going on in our
country? Does India have any plans to introduce GE crops or are we
taking a more precautionary approach? Do we have a choice?
View Video : Green Santa clip!
View Report : Rice at Risk
View Report : Genetically Engineered Rice - Not Sustainable Agriculture
View Video : Rice : A way of life in Yunnan, China
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