Professional Documents
Culture Documents
GM crops are described by many different names:(i) Genetically Engineered crops (GE)
(ii) Transgenic or Biotech Crops
(iii) Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
GM CROPS - FOR
Use of pesticides or herbicides can be
minimized and thus will benefit the
environment and wildlife.
GM food could be made healthier than
conventional
foods
by,
for
e.g.,
modifying them to include extra
vitamins and nutrients.
GM crops can be engineered to survive
and grow in unfavorable conditions and
withstand drought or floods.
GM crop can give much higher yield as
compared to normal crops
GM crop can improve farmers yearly
income owing to high yield
CROPS
GM
Superbugs
or Super-weeds
might evolve
AGAINST
to be resistant to the chemicals or toxins
developed in conjunction with GM crops.
The growing of GM crops could result in
cross-pollination between GM crops and
non-GM and organic crops thereby
contaminating them.
Because it is a new technology, there is
a need to adopt the precautionary
principle.
GM crops might result in toxic and
allergic reactions in certain people.
GM crops will result in increased
dependency on transnational biotech
corporations to supply seed and
chemicals,
the
result
being
monocultures.
Concerns about the potential for mutation. There are concerns about accidental
release, possibly leading to disease or allergens in the human population
Dramatic reduction in pesticide use, with the size of the reduction varying between crops and
introduced trait.
In the USA, adoption of GM crops resulted in pesticide use reduction of 46.4 million pounds in
2003
The use of Bt cotton in China resulted in pesticide use reduction of 78,000 tons of formulated
pesticides in 2001
Herbicide tolerant crops have facilitated the continued expansion of conservation tillage, especially
no-till cultivation system, in the USA. The adoption of conservation and no-till cultivation practices
saved nearly 1 billion tons of soil per year
Biotech cotton has been documented to have a positive effect on the number and diversity of
beneficial insects in the US and Australian cotton fields
Negative impacts
Potential of the introduced genes to outcross to weedy relatives and form new weedy species
It is not impossible for new, human modified, plants to become invasive species in delicate, natural ecosystems
Direct effects on non-target organisms
GMOs may be toxic to non-target organisms, bees and butterflies being the most talked-about examples
currently.
Monarch butterflies are specifically at risk from GMO maize plants.
Irrigation carries all of these problems into water sources and into the air. This exposes different bacteria,
insects, and animals to the same problems.
Development of insect resistance
Pests that are targeted may adapt to the DNA changes in GM plants to make them resistant. This means that
they will not always be effective, but their toxic legacies will remain.
Why Ban?
With new findings coming everyday,
countries want to play safe
They simply want to take time to do proper
research and develop better test before
allowing GM
There is a huge opposition against the GM
crops
Why Allow?
Countries have reached there saturation
point in terms of land availability and hence
want to use GM crop to increase productivity
There are very few evidence on harmful
effects of GM crop and these countries deems
it safe for usage
Introduced in 2005
Seeds 4 times higher than non-Bt seeds
Crop failures and debt traps - Sudden growth in crop failures and suicides
Maharash
(Highest in 2006)
tra
Rice growing areas lesser suicides than suicides in cotton growing areas
The field is evolving and the impact of such crops on the environment and also on the human
body isn't clearly understood yet
The existing regulatory mechanism in India is weak.
Regulation was excessive and it is denying the benefits to the poor.
Concern for safety & long-term effects on the environment
Concentration of intellectual property resources
OneoftheprimefearsrelatedtobiotechnologyisthattheGMcrops
mayleadtoamonocultureanddevastatethebiodiversitythatmaybelikeaself
servingbioweapononatargetnation
To justify the introduction of GM crops in areas of origin there needs to be extraordinarily
compelling reasons and an absence of other choices. GM crops that offer incremental
advantages or solutions to specific and limited problems are not sufficient reasons to justify such
release
Not able to leverage GM technology to its fullest potential due to strong opposition, Not able to conduct adequate field trails
We will not rush through, but we will also not come in the way of science
Need more conclusive data to proceed further
Plans to keep bio safety data out to the public domain
Industry
Wasting invaluable time in unnecessary probing
A comprehensive biotechnology policy should be developed in consultation with al stakeholders
Consultative and participative process should be in place
Awareness to clear of public perceptions
Civil Society
Strong public and political opposition amid fears about compromising on health safety and biodiversity Ex: Monsanto Case
Fears about long-term human and environmental safety, monopolies in seeds and food sovereignty
Allege that regulatory bodies and scientific publications are in bed with GM corporates
Scientific community
Unable to conduct independent research on GM crops as patents prevent full access to research materials
Scientists from institutions like IARI and ICAR and other research bodies argued that demand for scientific
trials has nothing to do with benefiting a company A or company B, but it's for larger interest of people of the
country
Nutrition
Livestock
03
03
04
04
Agriculture
02
02
05
05
Economy
Yield
01
01
Why GM
Crops
06
06
Passage
of
amendments.
BRAI
Bill
with
suggested
Viewpoint on GM Crops
As of now, India is in comfortable position for food, no immediate hurry
to jump into GM crops
India hasnt reached saturation in terms of yield unlike other developed
countries like USA who are proactive in terms of adopting GM Technology
No conclusive evidence on 97% of DNA, so possibility of bad
repercussions is high
Impetus should be on R & D; Govt. should encourage PPP Models but
safeguard the proprietary rights
Public & Civil society groups cannot forget the bad implications of
previous haphazardly implemented failed innovations
Thank You!