Farmer loses out to GM seed producer
By Claire Roy
A 71-year-old farmer becomes tearful as he explains how his farm of
three generations has been handed over to multinational GM
(genetically modified) seed producer Monsanto.
Percy Schmeiser was sued by Monsanto for allegedly using their Canola
plant seeds without permission. The company has patented various plant
genes, which can only by used after signing a contract. Schmeiser
found that his crops had been contaminated via pollination as his
neighbour had used the GM seed. The Canadian judge found that all of
Schmeiser's crops (including those not contaminated) were the property
of Monsanto as the contained their patented gene.
The effect of this ruling means that a company such as Monsanto can
claim ownership on any plant contaminated by their patented gene via
pollination. "The world is becoming colonised by transnational
companies who control seed and food supply", said Schmeiser at the
Third World Network teach-in on globalisation, genetic engineering and
biosafety at the People's Earth Summit at St Stithians College on
Wednesday.
The issue of GM foods made headlines recently when the Zambian
government recently refused to accept GM maize aid from the US in the
face of a looming famine.
"There's a lot we know we don't know about GM food", said Terje
Travik, Director of the Institute of Gene Ecology in Norway at the
same meeting. A molecular biologist by trade, Travik insists that
modern genetics can be positive in the containment of laboratories,
but that transgenic techniques used in food are not controllable in
uncontained circumstances such as nature. "We don't know all the
negative events that could happen", he said. "We still know too little
about gene ecology."
The Zambian government are taking the stand that precisely because
there is not conclusive evidence to show that GM food is harmless,
they can not distribute GM food aid. "We are using the precautionary
principle [in terms of the maize] which states that is there is no
agreement on the effects of a product on human health then we must say
no," said Zambian chemist and advisor to the government, Dr
Mwananyanda Mbikusita-Lewanika.
"We have been offered the aid only if we buy GM maize from the US",
said Lewanika. "It is out of common decency that we have rejected it.
How can we give people food that may be unhealthy for them?" he said.
"Our hunger problem will occur during January and March of next year,
we have until then to look for other aid".
"Our neighbours in Tanzania have offered us GM free maize, but we are
forced to buy American maize if we accept the aid". Lewanika said that
the government felt that people should not be forced to consume
products they are unsure of. "We held a public debate about the issue
where everyone could have a say. The majority said they'd rather
starve than eat GM food", he said.
Developers of GM foods say the advantages of the new crops saying the
technology produces superior plant varieties with improved
characteristics that makes them more desirable to eat, easier to grow
and yield higher quantities - perfect for famine ravaged Africa.
However, those against GM crops say that they lead to a few monocultures
of plant species, destroying varieties and adversely affecting soil
fertility.
Biowatch South Africa, a national non-governmental organisation which
publicises, monitors and researches issues of biological diversity,
genetic engineering and sustainable livelihoods, reports that the GM
situation in South Africa seems to be rising to the tune of many
Western countries by condoning the use of GE crops (often called
genetically improved or GI). 350 000 hectares of the country have been
planted with GM crops - up 50 percent from last year. This year, they
say, a transgenic version of white maize will be available for
consumption.
Hosts of the Earth Summit, Biowatch SA released their declaration this
week stating their opposition to "the patenting of life and to the
patenting of crops and seed" due to concerns about the "removal of
control of food production from local communities and farmers to
multinational corporations."
"We declare that genetic engineering in food and farming presents
serious and irreversible environmental and health risks." -Witsnews
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