Discussion about GM crops/foods amongst scientists.

[Guest guest]

" The Science & Politics of Genetic Engineering "

Talk by Dr Michael Hansen, Senior Staff Scientist, Consumers Union , USA

IMAGE, 23rd August'2008

Organised by Living Farms, Bhubaneswar

 

REPORT

 

On 23rd of August 2008, Dr Michael Hansen, Senior Staff Scientist, Consumers

Union, USA, delivered a talk on the " Science & Politics of Genetic Engineering " .

 

Dr Michael Hansen Ph.D. is a Doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from

the University of Michigan with a post graduation on the Impacts of

Biotechnology on Agricultural Research from the University of Kentucky. He is a

Senior Staff Scientist with Consumers Union, USA. He has talked widely on this

subject in Asia and in other parts of the World and also authored books, framed

policies and published reports that have been widely acclaimed. He has held

senior positions in various US Government bodies and also acted as a consultant

to WHO/FAO on biotechnology issues. He has chaired three international expert

committees on GM crops. 

 

Dr Michael Hansen in his talk pointed out the imprecise nature of Genetic

Engineering . There is no way to ensure the intended effect and the process is

highly unpredictable, he said. He cited various scientific studies to point out

the adverse effects this technology was having on agriculture as well as health

of farmers and consumers worldwide. He busted the myth of high yield and low

pesticide use being associated with the Genetically Modified (GM) crops by

showing statistics that showed such effects were temporary and GM crops fared

much worse than their traditional counterparts in the long run.  

 

He also criticized the proponents of GM crops for trying to project GM crops as

the solution to the food crisis that loomed ahead. GM technology was yet to

fathom all the conditions behind increased yield and therefore such statements

were mischievous he stated.  The companies advocating GM crops were the ones

that once said DDT was safe for humans. Thus it will be fallacious to assume

that these industries are doling out correct information..  

 

The solution to the present crisis is not a new and untested technology but

exploring other safe and sure methods that exist but are ignored because they

cannot be exploited for profit by the industry. He exposed the industry science

nexus by quoting from correspondence between the companies advocating GM crops

and the scientists and institutions that supported their views..  

 

The effect of GM foods on the health of consumers has never been seriously

studied , he said. He cited medical studies which pointed out that the foreign

proteins created by the inserted Bt gene over stimulate the immune system and

cause allergenicity. Studies on rats and mice have revealed serious health

disorders that have never been seriously followed up.  

 

In India cultivation of Bt Cotton, a genetically modified crop has been allowed

in five States. This is not a food crop and yet those handling it have come down

with severe allergies. The crop by products eaten by cattle and other animals

has affected them severely. What would happen when genetically modified food

crops are introduced is a question all Indians should seriously ponder upon, he

suggested.  

 

Genetic Engineering is reductionist in approach that fails to study the local

ecology and evolve holistic solutions, Dr Hansen revealed.  

 

Dr D P Ray, Vice Chancellor, OUAT, said that his institution was indeed

concentrating upon alternating methods than jumping into the GM bandwagon. He

said industry sponsored studies should not be taken at their face value. Higher

yields can be possible by ensuring the fertility of the soil, choosing

appropriate crops, lessening chemical inputs and using such methods as Marker

Assisted Selection (MAS) that did not require the physical insertion of foreign

genes. Orissa is a State with a rich biodiversity. It would not be wise to let

Genetically Modified crops contaminate this , he emphasised.  

 

The Dean, Agriculture, OUAT, was of the opinion that GM technology was a risk

that should be best avoided. The first generation crops were already proving to

have serious adverse effects. When the second and third generation crops would

be introduced the effect would be disastrous, he said.  

 

Col Sudhakar Satpathy, a Sena Medal Awardee and a senior official of the Red

Cross, wanted to know why the entire matter is not being presented in simple

terms to the lay person so that a public debate in the real sense can be

initiated to obtain the  informed consent of the public. 

 

When Dr P Jayashankar of CIFA enquired about sheep deaths after grazing in Bt

Cotton fields, Dr Hansen said that it could be a combined effect of the Bt toxin

and the extremely hazardous organophosphate pesticides that are being sprayed on

Bt Cotton to tackle the substantial increase in secondary pests as the natural

enemies of these pests are being destroyed by the Bt toxin. Dr Hansen warned

that the long term effects of the Bt toxin should be studied before venturing

into Bt food crops. 

 

Sri Satya Sundar Barik of The Hindu wondered if independent studies not

sponsored by industry on Bt Cotton were available. Dr Hansen said such studies

were indeed available but the findings were being ignored in the mad rush to

push in GM crops. He cited a very well researched study from China which brought

to the fore that yields from Bt Cotton were not stable and declined drastically

with time. It also showed that pesticide use steadily increased and overcame the

usage with non Bt Cotton. 

 

To a statement from HOD Biotechnology OUAT that GM was about solving the food

crisis and feeding the hungry, Dr Hansen pointed out that most studies that made

such claims were by the industry that resorted to manipulation of data. In

reality GM is focusing on crops that are not consumed by the hungry of the

world, but was being mass produced in America and Europe. He also said that 75%

of the GM crops acreage was devoted to herbicide resistant strains. Thus the

entire process is about controlling seeds, selling herbicides and pesticides,

and thus gaining a monopoly over the total food chain.  

 

Prof Radhamohan was of the opinion that Genetically Modified crops should be

rejected per se, a view that found favour with a large section of the audience

who were shocked at the revelations. They agreed with Dr Michael Hansen that

agriculture and food production is too important to be left to profit seeking

industries. " We need to have a knowledge based approach and not brute force that

seeks to change nature with an untested and imprecise technology that was

already showing its seamy side. "   

 

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks and an appeal to the policy makers to

review their stand on Genetically Modified crops. The need of the hour was eco

friendly sustainable agriculture that produced safe and nourishing food using

nature as a friend and not going against its rules that have been shaped by

centuries of careful adaptation, opined Dr Dhanada Mishra who chaired the

session.  

 

The discussion session was attended by Professors, senior scientists and doctors

from the OUAT, CTCRI, CIFA, CRRI, Institute of Life Sciences, Institute of

Health Sciences, Regional Medical Research Centre, Government Ayurvedic Hospital

, Utkal University and the Directorate of Horticulture. Sri GVV Sharma, Revenue

Secretary, Prof Radhamohan, former Information Commissioner, Sri S Raghavan, Biotechnology were some of the other participants.

 

On behalf of all those who attended the discussion we would appeal to every

concerned citizen to intervene and ensure that the menace of Bt cotton is

tackled in all sincerity and further experiments with GM crops is stopped

altogether. It is now time to ensure our food safety and sovereignty by

introducing the practice of eco friendly sustainable agriculture that is not a

terrible burden to the farmer and can produce safe and nourishing food for the

malnourished majority of the State.

 

 

 

Debjeet Sarangi & Jagannath Chatterjee

Living Farms

 

Living Farms,

1181/2146, Ratnakar Bag - 2,

Tankapani Road,

Bhubaneswar - 751018

 

 

 

" The public has many questions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. While

more parents are showing increased concern about these issues and the growing

number of vaccines to be administered to infants and children from day one of

life, there is a growing interest on the part of vaccine manufacturers, state

legislatures and medical societies to enforce vaccination on all children,

through the passing of more and more state vaccine mandates, without first

having a dialogue with the public, or the medical community. " - Dr Lawrence

Palevsky, MD. Pediatrician.

 

 

 

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