"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, Director 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
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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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