Genetically modified crops spreading in Southeast Asia

Genetically modified crops spreading in Southeast Asia

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Bangkok

The battle over introducing genetically modified (GM) crops in Southeast Asia is being fought in the corn fields of the Philippines and the papaya orchards of Thailand, among other places.

The struggle has mutated to become more ideological than scientific, with proponents arguing that the new, genetically modified crops can bring about an agricultural revolution to produce sturdier, faster-growing or pest-resistant crops while boosting yields to feed the world's hungry.

Opponents, meanwhile, accuse advocates of the new technology, particularly the administration of U.S. President George Bush and the U.S.-based Monsanto Corporation, of dragging the rest of the world into a brave new world of dangerous, genetically manipulated "Frankenfood".

In the Philippines, where there are currently no laws regulating the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Monsanto was granted a permit last December to commercially produce a genetically modified grain called Bt corn, despite objections from environment groups.

Monsanto said Bt corn was resistant to pests, and the use of the variety could improve production by as much as 40 percent compared to traditional corn varieties.

Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo said the country's corn farmers would benefit from the decision to allow commercial production of the Bt corn, arguing it would increase their income and productivity.

"Let us not be emotional about this issue," he said amid persistent opposition from environment groups. "Let us see first how Monsanto will be able to transfer this technology to the small corn farmers who stand to gain from this development."

Scientifically known as bacillus thurigiensis corn, the Bt corn is a genetically engineered crop in which a synthetic version of a gene from soil bacterium bacillus thurigiencies is inserted so that the plant produces its own Bt toxins to kill pests.

A total of 126 hectares of farmland is being used to cultivate Bt corn, mostly in the northern provinces, according to the international environment watchdog Greenpeace.

Beau Baconguis, a Greenpeace campaigner against GMOs, said the Bt corn would cause more harm than good.

"The commercial propagation unleashes an unpredictable and uncontrollable genetic experiment across the country," she said. "When the decision was taken to commercialize Bt corn, authorities involved deliberately ignored an extensive body of scientific research that indicates harmful ecological effects."

Baconguis noted that the Bt gene produces a pesticide that is toxic not just to pests but to many other insects, like the monarch butterfly, which are beneficial.

She also cited scientific studies indicating that Bt corn releases Bt toxins into the soil through its roots, which may cause soil degradation.

"Soil ecosystems are the basis of any agricultural system," she said. "The costs associated with long-term damage to soil ecology cannot be underestimated."

The new technology got a boost in Southeast Asia's most populous nation in mid-July, when a leading authority on Islamic affairs in Indonesia gave his go-ahead for the consumption of imported GM foods.

"Despite there being no official ruling on the GMO-based food products, as long as it comes from plantations, such as soya bean or corn, there are no problems," said Professor Aisyah Girindra, head of the medicine and food supervision at the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).

The Indonesian Consumers Institute (YLKI), meanwhile, has urged the government to issue regulations requiring all imported processed foods, including those derived from GM products, to undergo health examinations before entering the domestic market.

In Thailand, the Agriculture Ministry is currently testing genetically modified papaya in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen and in the central province of Nakhon Pathom.

Varoonvarn Svangsopakul, a Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner, said the testing risks contaminating neighboring fields.

"Any open field trials are dangerous," she said. "Birds and bees can spread the seeds and pollen can contaminate surrounding fields. If you look what's happening in Hawaii, this has weakened the trees and made them infected by black spot fungus."

A delegation of Hawaiian papaya farmers visited Thailand in early July and warned their Thai counterparts of the dire consequences of planting the gene-altered varieties.

"When GMO papaya was introduced five years ago they claimed it was a solution to the papaya ringspot virus problem. But instead it has caused serious environmental and economic problems for farmers," said Melanie Bondera, a sustainable agriculture farmer and member of the Hawaii Genetic Engineering Action Network (HIGEAN) on Hawaii's Big Island.

"The developers of GMO papaya are saying that it's ready for commercial release in Thailand," Varoonvarn said. "But the message from Hawaii is very clear. GMO papaya is an ecological disaster."

Varoonvarn accused the U.S. government of pushing GMO technology in Asia in order to benefit American companies, particularly Monsanto.

"U.S. policy is driven by big business," she said. "They have invested a lot of money in this. The American companies are trying to control food crops. Monsanto is very influential in government."