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DO NOT ALLOW GENETICALLY MODIFIED MUSTARD IN…..
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests is meeting on November 7, 2002 to decide on the fate of genetically modified mustard (GM Mustard) in this country. Since the government and the corporations have always acted in great secrecy when it came to the dangerous technology of genetic engineering, we feel that it is imperative that YOU know some important facts about the hazards of GM crops in general and GM Mustard in particular.
GM Mustard is transformed with DNA (gene material) drawn from a number of bacteria, mainly to make it resistant to glufosinate, a broad spectrum herbicide (chemicals used to kill weeds). Pro-Agro Seeds India Private Limited, the Indian arm of Aventis with PGS, a Belgian company, is attempting to introduce this genetically modified (GM) Mustard in India. It is claimed that gene modification of mustard will help increase the production of the crop. A bacterial gene that detoxifies the broad spectrum herbicide glufosinate is transferred to GM rapeseed/mustard so that the plant is not affected by the herbicide. This is done along with another gene to ‘switch on’ the tolerance gene, as well as male fertility and fertility restorer genes. The fact that a number of genes from different bacteria are transformed makes protein expressions and consumption of this modified food crop a huge potential risk.
HEALTH RISKS:
· Antibiotic resistance: Antibiotic markers such as kanamycin are used during the genetic transformation of mustard, and increased exposure to such antibiotics might cause infections to become resistant to antibiotics, rendering some medicines ineffective.
· Allergies: Introduction of new unrelated gene products with new unknown proteins will cause allergic responses. The expression of Brazil nut protein in soybean confirmed that genetic engineering could lead to the expression of allergenic proteins.
· Toxicity: Introduction of new proteins or introduction of unknown toxic compounds could increase toxicity.
· Human Consumption: As a food, the use of GM Mustard is questionable. Some new routes like honey for example, can also transfer the unknown proteins to human beings.
· Increased herbicide residues in food: GM Mustard is engineered to be herbicide tolerant, so that when a field is sprayed with herbicide, all plants except the GM Mustard will die. The increased use of herbicides would mean increased amount of extremely toxic residues in food products. Further, glyphosate herbicides cause eye and skin irritation, cardiac problems, testicular cancer and a reduction in sperm count.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS:
· Genetic Pollution: GM Mustard will cause genetic pollution by transferring its genes to related plants. Herbicide resistant genes could turn weeds into super-weeds, the control of which would demand greater usage of pesticides.
· Cross Pollination: This oil seed has been seen to cross-pollinate with several wild, weedy relatives of the Brassica family. The foreign gene can enter the native gene pool through creation of hybrids. Hybridization has been proven to occur between oil seed rape and wild radish, wild turnip, hoary mustard and mustard greens. When the gene that confers tolerance to glufosinate moves to wild relatives, resistant rapeseed itself becomes a weed problem.
· Unintended effects on non-target species: Some laboratory studies have reported damage to the larvae of monarch butterfly feeding on the pollen from Bt plants. Further research is needed in this area, for conclusions to be drawn.
· Increased weediness: Some new traits introduced into crops - such as pest or pathogen resistance - could cause transgenic crops to become problem weeds. This could result in serious economic and ecological harm to farm or wildlife habitats.
· Threats to biodiversity: Gene exchange could spread to wild relatives that are rare or endangered resulting in genetic contamination.
CORPORATE GREED
And, the biggest problem yet from these technologies is that of monopolistic methods adopted by large companies to appease their corporate greed for profits, including intellectual property rights.
In the case of GM Mustard, first the company made Glufosinate, and now, they are developing crops that are genetically modified to resist Glufosinate – one obvious way to promote usage of their own herbicide. While the profits of the TNC (transnational corporation) increase by doling out such high-risk technology, the farmer loses control over agriculture and bioresources as s/he is unable to regenerate the seed and now becomes dependent on the TNC. This effectively takes away the control over seeds from farmers and adversely affects the livelihoods of millions of poor agricultural workers in this country. It is very obvious who stands to benefit from all of this. Large, multinational, “life science” corporations are known to first create the problem and then market the solution!
OUR FIGHT IS TO RECLAIM WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS!
Messing with mustard, an important food crop, has enormous negative repercussions in this country. It is one of the major sources of edible oil for human consumption and oilseed cakes for animal feed. To stop the menace that GM Mustard poses to our environment, health and livelihoods of poor farmers and agricultural workers, do join the fight against GE crops and support the revival and spread of sustainable agriculture and farmer-led technologies in the country.
DO DEMAND:
- THAT GM MUSTARD NEVER BE APPROVED FOR COMMERCIAL RELEASE CONSIDERING THE GREAT HAZARDS THAT IT POSES
- THAT Bt COTTON APPROVAL BE RESCINDED FORTHWITH SINCE ITS FAILURE IN THE FIELD WAS EVIDENT THIS SEASON AND THE UTTER FAILURE OF REGULATORY MECHANISMS HAS BEEN PROVEN BEYOND DOUBT.
- THAT ALL FIELD TRIALS ON NEW GE PRODUCTS (including vegetables like tomatoes and brinjals) BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY
- THAT DETAILS OF ALL TRIALS BE MADE PUBLIC BY THE GOVERNMENT & THE COMPANIES BEFORE ANY FURTHER DECISIONS ARE TAKEN
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