In light of this, Greenpeace together with the Centre for World
Solidarity, Science for People and the Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya
Vruthidarula Union demanded that field testing be declared invalid
and stopped immediately.
At a press conference Greenpeace along with NGO's and Scientists
testified that the Bt cotton field trials being conducted by
Mahyco, a subsidiary of US gene giant Monsanto, posed a serious
environmental risk, besides being totally inappropriate to the
complex pest problem facing the cotton crop.
Displaying photographs of the field trials, they revealed that
the main claim of pest resistance could not be ascertained since
the Bt seeds were incorrectly planted much after the normal sowing
season. Usually, plants sown late, escape the pest attack. A
serious cause of concern is the danger of genetic contamination of
nearby cotton crops since the isolation distances maintained were
insufficient. (1) Moreover supervision and monitoring is being
carried out largely by uninformed personnel not conversant with
Genetically Modified Organisms's. Additionally, no measures for
containment to prevent grazing of animals or picking by others were
followed.
"Three years ago controversies around the field trials were on
the very same issues and activists, scientists and farmers had
raised their doubts about the unsafe and unsystematic manner in
which they were being carried out. The Government had then assured
us that the tests would be done under the 'protection' of the
agricultural universities. But evidence clearly shows that even the
universities have not followed any procedures, stated Dr.
Ramanjaneyulu, with the Science for People. "Besides the potential
dangers this poses, any decision based on the data collected would
be unscientific", he added.
Greenpeace pointed out that in the last one year, the
unpredictability and potential dangers posed by Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMO's) had been vindicated in the light of
several contamination scandals that shattered America and Europe
(2).
"It is shocking to see the lackadaisical manner in which a
potentially dangerous gene-altered crop is being tested. This is no
way of testing and very simply is bad science, stated Michelle
Chawla, Genetic Engineering Campaigner with Greenpeace. "The
reality is that field trials are a farce under the guise of
'scientific research' while the primary aim is commercialisation",
she added.
Meanwhile, the body of evidence against Bt crops is increasing.
One of the main areas of concern is the early development of
resistance to Bt in bollworm that has now been detected in China .
Consequences such as these can severely threaten to jeopardise
other ecologically sound methods of pest control and eventually
prove devastating to the farmers. Moreover, Bt cotton is designed
to be resistant only to cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa Armigera)
while the cotton crop in India is faced with a complexity of pest
attacks. Pests such as whitefly and Pink bollworm have emerged as
major pests in the last few years with crop losses being as high as
those caused by the bollworm. (3)
"The crisis facing the cotton crop is systemic and there is an
urgent need to asses and evaluate more holistic solutions. Cotton
is a target for several pests and an isolated system of management
of only Helicoverpa (cotton bollworm) independent of other pests is
an entirely wrong approach, said Dr. M.S Chari, cotton scientist
with the Centre for World Solidarity, promoting Non Pesticidal
Management of cotton.
Emphasis needs to be given to innovative and successful
alternatives such as the Non Pesticidal Management (NPM) of cotton,
which is based on conservation of bio-diversity and the use of
traditional knowledge for the management and control of pests.
Farmers in three districts of Andhra Pradesh, have been able to
reduce costs, maintain yields and control the multitude of pests
attacking cotton by utlising these techniques. (4)
Notes:
(1) The isolation distance of less than 10 metres in a farmer's
Bt field can pose the danger of genetic contamination of
neigbouring cotton crops due to cross pollination. In India, cotton
seed oil is used for human consumption and seed cake used for
animal feed, thus posing a potential danger to human and animal
health.
(2) The 'Starlink' scandal was in the centre of controversy last
year when a genetically engineered maize variety had been detected
in hundreds of consumer products in the USA violating regulation
restrictions to use it only for animal feed for fear of health
risks (allergic reactions). This was only one in a string of
scandals of GE contamination found in cotton, rapeseed, soybeans,
maize and sugar beets in different parts of UK and Europe.
(3) According to N.P Agnihotri, cotton bollworm led to a 50-60
percent loss in cotton crop, while the whitefly showed an equally
significant share of crop losses, in the range of 53-80 percent.
(Pesticide Safety Evaluation and Monitoring, Indian Agricultural
Institute, New Delhi, 1999, p. 10.)
(4) From 1999-2000, in a total area of 1264 hectares, in 11
villages, farmers practicing Non Pesticidal Management methods were
able to get a higher net income in comparison with pesticide
treated check plots due to the fact that there their costs for
plant protection were reduced by more than half. ((Progress report
of Non-Pesticidal Management of Cotton, Pigeonpea and Groundnut
Pests, 1999-2000, Centre for World Solidarity).