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AgBioIndia 3dec02 In Indonesia, a study conducted by a post-graduate student has found that GM cotton grown experimentally in South Sulawesi has contaminated areas around the plantation which is owned by PT Monagro Kimia, the Indonesian subsidiary of Monsanto. The discovery which was made through molecular observation, has so far been denied by the company. In India, a former Advisor to the Department of Biotechnology, has questioned the veracity of scientific claims pertaining to gene transfer and safety of GM crops. Strange that the same official, who was responsible for according clearance to the genetically modified crops, should be questioning the scientific conclusions after his retirement. But then, the bigger question is why are we not ready to accept that the GM crops are not safe? Nevertheless, what has emerged crystal clear is that the genetic contamination is too serious an issue to be pushed under the carpet. Studies need to be conducted in India to ascertain the contamination levels in cotton fields adjoining to those where Bt cotton was planted. And if this be the case in cotton, the approval to GM food crops like mustard need to be surely withheld. We cannot allow genetic contamination to go unchecked just to appease the corporate sector. After all the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has a responsibility to ascertain the socio-economic impacts besides environmental risks before approving any GM crop. The issue of contamination will have serious implications to the standards of organic and conventional crops with possible negative impacts on their markets. It is increasingly becoming clearer that co-existence of GM and non-GM crops is not possible. This raises many serious issues, including unresolved issues of liability for contamination, coupled with lawsuits by the companies for patent infringement for 'use' of their patented seed. |
Jakarta - A study by a post-graduate student from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) has shown that genetically modified cotton grown experimentally in South Sulawesi has contaminated areas around the plantation.
Maharmah Nadir, the researcher, said on Tuesday that the contamination could be detected through molecular observation only.
Maharmah conducted her study from September 2001 through August 2002, at a South Sulawesi genetically modified cotton plantation owned and funded by American firm PT Monagro Kimia.
"Local cotton farmers will only find out that their cotton has been polluted by the modified cotton at harvest time.
"With their crops being similar to the genetically modified cotton, they could face legal charges of growing genetically modified cotton without the permission of Monsanto (the firm that holds the patent for the modified cotton)," she told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Dadang Gusyana, spokesman for Monagro Kimia, said on Wednesday that his company doubted the methodology of the latest study, and therefore could not yet accept its findings.
"We have been conducting research for three years and we have not yet found any adverse impact (from the genetically modified cotton)," he said.
He also claimed that Maharmah had conducted her study in Monagro Kimia's fields without obtaining permission from the company.
Maharmah carried out her research in Bajeng subdistrict, South Sulawesi, where the Bolgar strain of genetically modified cotton is being cultivated close by local cotton of the Kanesia 7 variety.
She said that if the contaminated local cotton was used as raw material for oil, the oil could not be exported to countries that banned unlabeled genetically modified agricultural and food products.
Therefore, she suggested that local cotton farmers and Monagro Kimia should stagger their crops so that they would be harvested at different times.
"Another alternative would be for the genetically modified cotton and cotton plants to be quarantined," she said.
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