Polluting young minds with unscientific misinformation.

September 30, 2009

ToThe Editor,Science ReporterNew Delhi.Dt: 30.09.09Dear Sir,This has reference to the Point Counterpoint feature on the "Future Food Security", September 2009.

In the debate the majority of the young readers have spoken in favour

of genetic modification. As the background to the debate have they been

directed to literature both for and against? Genetic modification

brings out the romantic within us as we imagine a society where all

problems have a technical solution. Unfortunately we are yet to reach

such a state. GM food crops and also GM cotton has failed to deliver

the world over on all counts. In India Bt Cotton has not increased

yield, nor kept crops free of pest, and failed to perform under stress

conditions. The only thing they have done is started the spiralling

farmer suicides in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Severe

health hazards to animals and cattle in case of Bt Cotton has also been

reported from Punjab, Haryana and Orissa. They have also caused

grievous harm to soil microbes and the environment. In case of the yet

to be launched but ready for commercial applications Bt Brinjal the

seed companies own data reveals serious health hazards. There is a lot of

economic interest in such food and crops due to the patent regime.

Biosafety tests are being ignored. Scientists opposing such profit

oriented technology are being openly threatened. Thus Genetic Modification seems more of an industry hype rather than a scientific outcome. You will do well to critically examine the issue in your future publications.Yours

faithfully,Jagannath Chatterjee

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