| |
Contributions from
the Column
Studies and reports
Assessing the costs, benefits and risks
of GM crops on a case by case basis
DAC discusses civil-military cooperation
Ownership is the goal rather than the means
Making use of local expertise
US Senate approves outsourcing ban
Organic cotton is gaining ground
3/2004 |
|
[ Nuffield Council on Bioethics ]
Assessing the costs, benefits and risks
of GM crops on a case by case basis
Opponents of genetic engineering in agriculture consider it the work of the devil, claiming it harbours untold ecological risks and health hazards and makes farmers worldwide dependent on a small number of seed producers. Its advocates, however, see genetically modified crops as a way out of poverty, a unique opportunity to produce enough food for the world’s growing population. A discussion paper published by the British Nuffield Council on Bioethics now argues to quit the generealised level of debate in order to assess the pros and cons of GM crops case-by-case. The paper’s authors concede that, in purely quantitative terms, the world's farmers already produce enough food to meet global needs and that hunger is due largely to patchy patterns of food distribution and lack of purchasing power. The task of tackling distribution problems, however, needs to be flanked by action designed to improve farmers’ ability to achieve higher yields from their land – so they can feed themselves and others through their own efforts. If genetic engineering can help them do so and where it compares favourably to other options, the British researchers say the use of GM plants should not be hindered. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is funded by two private trusts and the public Medical Research Council and provides advice for policy-makers on ethical issues raised by developments in biology and medicine.
In eight case studies, the researchers look at the opportunities and risks GM might present for agriculture in developing countries. Pest-resistant Bt cotton, for example, has led to a marked upturn in yields in China and South Africa. In the South African province of KwaZulu/Natal, where the average farm is around 1.7 hectares small, the percentage of farmers who switched to genetically modified cotton from 1999 to 2002 jumped from 12 percent to an estimated 95 percent. One of the problems associated with Bt cotton is that 90 percent of the biotech patents are held by a single enterprise – the Monsanto Group based in the USA. What’s more, there are signs that resistance to cotton pests leads to an increase in other pests, which then need to be fought using more pesticides.
Taking a look at herbicide-resistant soya beans, the policy advisers illustrate the need to weigh up GM's pros and cons on a case by case basis. Herbicide resistance makes manual weeding unnecessary – which may be a handicap where desperately needed jobs could be lost. But where agriculture suffers from a growing shortage of labour – as it does in Southern Africa due to AIDS – less labour-intensive crops could be a boon. However, in so-called “diversity centres” (regions where many different varieties of a specific plant are grown) – such as Mexico (for maize) or India (for cotton) – the risk of non-GM crops being contamined by air-borne pollen needs to be taken particularly seriously.
Among the prime requirements for the use of GM in agriculture are effective monitoring and regulation. Before introducing GM crops, the Nuffield Council says, benefits and risks need to be carefully assessed. And after a permit is granted, care must be taken to ensure that farmers can buy seed at fair prices and have access to advice. In most developing countries, however, state institutions capable of providing such guarantees are few and far between. Such bodies need to be created, the Nuffield researchers say, with the help of international development cooperation. In addition, the paper advises developing countries to cooperate more extensively at regional levels, for instance by sharing environmental impact assessments. The biotech companies operating in developing countries are called upon to involve small-scale farmers in their plant breeding operations so they can take greater account of their needs and preferences. (ell)
The discussion paper is published on the Internet at:
www.nuffieldbioethics.org/gmcrops/latestnews.asp
|
