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It cannot be excluded that genetically altered plants involve possible health risks. The random insertion of a foreign gene may disrupt the tightly controlled network of DNA in an organism. The gene could, for example, alter chemical reactions within the cell or disturb cell functions. This could lead to instability, the creation of new toxins or allergens, and changes in nutritional value. Scientists have found fragments of DNA in GE soya, which came from unknown source. Monsanto, the company responsible for introducing GE soya, has not given comprehensive explanations to the source of the unidentifiable DNA fragments. The DNA fragments are functional and may express unexpected, untested novel proteins being produced in the soya. On the other hand, conventional soya has been cultivated and consumed by humans for more than 5000 years. It is scientific common sense to tell which is safer. Gai Junyi More questions: Genetic engineering makes it possible to insert foreign genes into random positions into the DNA of a host, e.g. a plant or crop. These hosts are then subsequently screened for the desirable trait inserted, e.g. resistance to a chemical weed-killer. There is only one variety of GE soya cultivated on a large scale in the world, and it is owned by Monsanto, an agro-chemical company based in the U.S. Monsanto¡¯s GE soya has been made to tolerate the herbicide glyphosate. Glyphosate is marketed under the trade name ¡°Roundup,¡± (RR) which is also manufactured by Monsanto. This means that Roundup can be used to kill weeds in soybean crops without harming the soybean plants themselves. In 1996, GE soya was grown commercially for the first time by farmers in the US and Argentina. GE soya is now by far the biggest GE crop grown in the world. In 2002, RR soybean occupied 62% of the total acreage of GE crops being grown in the world. GE soya is commonly found in packaged foods and also used for animal feed. Apparently, Monsanto controls GE soya. Monsanto¡¯s GE crops occupy more than 90% of the total growing areas of GE crops in the world. In many ways, Monsanto IS the GE industry. The figure also says that application of GE technology in agriculture only helps to consolidate control of food production in the hands of a few big companies. Monsanto¡¯s main businesses are agro-chemicals and seeds. In 2001, it was the world¡¯s second largest seed company and third largest agro-chemical company. GE soya is not made to increase yield or improve nutrition. Monsanto¡¯s GE soya is made to be used together with its own weed-killer. This means farmers have to buy both the seeds and herbicide from one single company, thus bringing more profit to Monsanto. Between 1996 and 2000, five years after the creation of herbicide-resistant soybean, the sale of Roundup increased by 20% per annum. All GE crops in the market are patented. This means farmers have to pay royalties to Monsanto, and they are not allowed to save seeds for future use. In the US and Canada, Monsanto has hired people to investigate if farmers have violated its patent rights and initiated many cases against farmers who were accused of using or saving its seeds ¡°illegally.¡± What are the consequences of contamination? Genetically engineered organisms contain genes, which have been transferred from unrelated species. If these ¡°foreign¡± genes are then transferred into other organisms, this causes genetic contamination or pollution of the natural gene pool. Unlike other forms of pollution, genetic contamination has the potential to be a problem that multiplies as plants grow and reproduce. Therefore, environmental damage caused by GE organisms is irreversible and cannot be confined to the original habitat in which they are first introduced For thousands of years, farmers and scientists have relied on nature¡¯s gifts of genetic diversity to develop varieties resistant to new pests, diseases, and changing climatic and environmental conditions. Diversity is important for global food supply and food security. Genetic contamination of the natural gene pool can lead to irreversible loss of biodiversity, and hence threaten food security. Could farmers benefit form GE soya? Monsanto claims that GE soya has brought many advantages to farmers, but experiences have shown GE soya has decreased yield, increased spray of weed-killers, and brought economic loss to farmers. In 1998, several US universities conducted RR soybean trials and found a yield drag of 4 %. Scientific analysis, published in 2001, clearly shows that yields of RR soya are suppressed with scientists concluding that ¡°the yield suppression appears to be associated with the Roundup Ready gene or its insertion process.¡± Experiences have also shown farmers are spraying more herbicides since
the introduction of GE soya. A recent report draws on official U.S. Department
of Agriculture data from 1996-2003 on herbicide use, and finds that herbicides
associated with GE crops has increased by 30 million kilograms, largely
due to the massive growing of GE soya. |