Ecologists warn of modified crops
Ecologists warn of modified crops
JAKARTA (JP): Environmentalists warned yesterday that
Indonesia could soon be the target market for genetically
modified crops which they claim have long-term harmful side
effects.
Vandana Shiva, an environmental activist from India and
Tewolde Egzaiber, the head of the Ethiopian Conservation Garden,
said genetically modified food commodities such as soybean could
be bound here in increasing numbers as traditional markets such
as Europe become more selective of such products.
While long-term studies still prove inconclusive, they
strongly suspect that genetically modified crops could be harmful
to consumers' health and the environment.
They said that Europe was already debating measures to
scrutinize such products by labeling them.
Speaking at a discussion on genetic engineering and biosafety
in the Third World here yesterday, they said Indonesia could
become a "dumping place" if people in other parts of the world
began refusing to consume such commodities.
The demand here could also increase.
Indonesia already imports between 400,000 and 600,000 tons of
soybean annually, mostly from the United States.
Indonesia was last year hit by a severe drought which has seen
soybean production shrink by 3.82 percent.
Tariffs on items such as soybean have also been reduced to 20
percent and will go down further to 5 percent in 2003.
Vandana, an internationally recognized physicist, said it was
now up to consumers to resist genetically modified food
commodities in the market since the government could no longer
regulate such prohibitions.
But she maintained that the government could help by
separating the shipment of genetically modified foods from
organically processed food to allow consumers to differentiate
between them.
She also called for a campaign to increase public awareness on
the possible long-term side effects of such products.
Tewolde, a delegate at biodiversity conventions, said the
government could help raise awareness by providing factual
information. (09)