Get the facts before you dive in.
At first, Genetically Modified(GM) crops sound as a technological break through to provide a better food security to mankind. The promises range anywhere from increased yield, pest resistance to exotic things like enhanced vitamin and protein content.
But once you scratch the surface, the ugly reality crops up. With genetic modification, one could insert human gene into rice plant. The impacts of such changes to natural plant are many fold. It could:
1. Alter the toxicity and nutritional value of the plant. It could take decades to see the impact of such toxins on human consumers and their offspring.
2. It could cause ecological disaster. GM plants could kill beneficial and vital insects and bacteria. It could cross pollinate and contaminate the non-GM crops.
3. Threaten food security. The introduction of GM crops is irreversible. Once they pollinate and render all the non-GM crops in the surrounding fields to be toxic, then there would nothing that is non-GM. If then, we find that the GM crops are bad to humans, there will be nothing of that crop left for human consumers. Imagine not being able to eat rice or wheat for eternity.
GM crops marketed as resistant to herbicide, providing an easy way of weed control. But that resistance of the GM crops only works if the farmer uses the herbicide sold by the company that also sells the seeds. GM crop is resistant to pests because a toxin is created in the seed that kills the pests. How safe is that toxin to humans?
USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture) has clearly stated that GM crops have not shown significant increase in yield from GM crops compared to traditional crops.
All the safety tests done by major GM seed manufacturers are never fully published and kept under a tight lid. They even sue the poor farmers whose field gets contaminated by the GM pollen. Read the story of Percy Schmeiser.
Only 12 countries in the world have opted to adopt GM crops. USA, Argentina and Canada account for 90% of the GM crop. Cotton, Maize, Soybean and Canola account for almost all of the GM crops in these countries.
More details at the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) article.
Most countries in Europe require marking on GM products. In USA, products that are marked "Organic" are GM free. There is no such thing in India yet. Indian consumers should be aware of the changes in government policy with adopting GM crops and voice their concern before it is too late. It is our kids' future we are talking about.
At first, Genetically Modified(GM) crops sound as a technological break through to provide a better food security to mankind. The promises range anywhere from increased yield, pest resistance to exotic things like enhanced vitamin and protein content.
But once you scratch the surface, the ugly reality crops up. With genetic modification, one could insert human gene into rice plant. The impacts of such changes to natural plant are many fold. It could:
1. Alter the toxicity and nutritional value of the plant. It could take decades to see the impact of such toxins on human consumers and their offspring.
2. It could cause ecological disaster. GM plants could kill beneficial and vital insects and bacteria. It could cross pollinate and contaminate the non-GM crops.
3. Threaten food security. The introduction of GM crops is irreversible. Once they pollinate and render all the non-GM crops in the surrounding fields to be toxic, then there would nothing that is non-GM. If then, we find that the GM crops are bad to humans, there will be nothing of that crop left for human consumers. Imagine not being able to eat rice or wheat for eternity.
GM crops marketed as resistant to herbicide, providing an easy way of weed control. But that resistance of the GM crops only works if the farmer uses the herbicide sold by the company that also sells the seeds. GM crop is resistant to pests because a toxin is created in the seed that kills the pests. How safe is that toxin to humans?
USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture) has clearly stated that GM crops have not shown significant increase in yield from GM crops compared to traditional crops.
All the safety tests done by major GM seed manufacturers are never fully published and kept under a tight lid. They even sue the poor farmers whose field gets contaminated by the GM pollen. Read the story of Percy Schmeiser.
Only 12 countries in the world have opted to adopt GM crops. USA, Argentina and Canada account for 90% of the GM crop. Cotton, Maize, Soybean and Canola account for almost all of the GM crops in these countries.
More details at the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) article.
Most countries in Europe require marking on GM products. In USA, products that are marked "Organic" are GM free. There is no such thing in India yet. Indian consumers should be aware of the changes in government policy with adopting GM crops and voice their concern before it is too late. It is our kids' future we are talking about.
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