Genetically Modified Organisms, useful or dangerous?

Read the BBC News article on French GM-fed rat study!

A few questions you need to ask yourselves about GMOs:

In September 2012, Professor Séralini presented his study on GMOs. He tested in secret during two years the effects of GMOs on rats. The result was unbelievable; many of these rats contracted diseases as a result of feeding on GMO maze… What do you think of this study ? Should we worry about GMOs ?

What are the risks for the environment of GMOs ? Is there any possibility of cross-pollination with non-GMO crops ?

What are the effects for the health of humans and animals ?

Monsanto has the monopoly on GMOs. Every year farmers have to buy new seeds from this TNC. What are the consequences on farmers' lives ?

Arguments for the use of GMOs:

Better resistance to stress

If crops can be made more resistant to pest outbreaks, it would reduce the danger of crop failure. Similar benefits could result from better resistance to severe weather, such as frost, extreme heat or drought.

More nutritious staple foods

By inserting genes into crops such as rice and wheat, we can increase their food value. For example, genes responsible for producing the precursor of vitamin A have been inserted into rice plants, which have higher levels of vitamin A in their grain.

More productive farm animals

Genes can be inserted into cattle to raise their milk yield.

More food from less land

Improved productivity using GMOs might mean that farmers in the next century won't have to bring so much marginal land into cultivation.

GMOs might reduce the environmental impact of food production and industrial processes

Genetically engineered resistance to pests and diseases could greatly reduce the chemicals needed for crop protection, and it is already happening. Scientists are developing trees that have a lower content of lignin, a structuring constituent of woody plant cells. This could reduce the need for noxious chemicals in pulp and paper production.

Rehabilitation of damaged or less fertile land

Large areas of cropland in the developing world have become saline by unsustainable irrigation practices. Genetic modification could produce salt-tolerant varieties. While there is some advanced research in this area, salt and drought tolerance are the result of quite complex gene combinations, and positive results will take longer than those providing insecticide and herbicide resistance.

Bioremediation

Rehabilitation of damaged land may also become possible through organisms bred to restore nutrients and soil structure.

Longer shelf lives

The genetic modification of fruit and vegetables can make them less likely to spoil in storage or on the way to market.

Biofuels

Plant material fuel, or biomass, has enormous energy potential. It may be possible to breed plants specifically for this purpose.

Investigation of diseases with genetic fingerprinting

"Fingerprinting" of animal and plant diseases is already possible. This technique allows researchers to know exactly what an organism is by looking at its genetic blueprint.

Identification of allergenic genes

Although some are worried about the transfer of allergenic genes molecular biology could also be used to characterize allergens and remove them.

Arguments against the use of GMOs:

The taste of GMOs is not as good or as "natural" as real food

Harm to other organisms

Genes included in a crop may turn out to be poisonous to insects (for example, the monarch butterfly poisoned by GMO maze).

Cross-pollination with ordinary (crop) plants

Cross pollination can occur at quite large distances. New genes may also be included in the offspring of the traditional, organic crops miles away. This makes it difficult to distinguish which crop field is organic, and which is not, creating a problem to the proper labelling of non-GMO food products. Super weeds which are more resistant can be spread everywhere. It can be the same for super pests.

Health problems

Cancers may be caused by GMOs but also allergies.

Only major trading countries obtain most of the benefit from the production and trade of genetically modified crops

This might cause more geopolitical conflicts.

Monopolies by TNCs

Fewer competitors might increase food prices. Large companies can influence health and safety standards.

Here is a summary of the personal views in favour of GMOs expressed by Mr Villemont, an agro engineer:

• The world population is increasing; it will soon reach nine billion. So if everyone is to have enough to eat, it is necessary to produce more meat and crops.
• You cannot deny people in developing countries wanting to eat more meat!
• We have to increase yield to keep the peace in the world and transgenic plants are the solution.
• Farmers and the GMO industry have to comply with regulations to increase biodiversity!
• So-called alternative agricultural techniques will not solve the problem of possible wide-scale famine.
• GMOs help reduce the use of chemicals.
• The Séralini research on rats is simply not reliable.

Here is a summary of the views against the use of GMOs expressed by Mr Birson, a member of an environmental protection association:

• Transgenic plants are not the solution to feeding the world. There are alternatives. Terra Preta
• (http://www.terrapretaprogram.org/our_program.aspx) is one solution. With this method, yield is very high and it does not pollute the environment.
• The film by Coline Serrault (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsbXnTlCwHc) shows the disastrous effects of GMOs very well, and it also shows initiatives by farmers in India to find alternatives that increase biodiversity.
• Eating so much meat is not necessary (it is bad for health and the environment as more land is needed to produce meat than to produce cereals).
• Monsanto has the monopoly on genetically modified seed and this is not good. The urgency of feeding a growing population means that GMO products are being used though proper long-term research has not been carried out.
• Globalisation is a big mistake. There is competition between countries which leads to absurdities like Spanish tomatoes being sold in Holland and Dutch tomatoes being sold in Spain.
• If a farmer has less than 10 hectares of land, he can’t get any subsidies in Europe, so States are encouraging large-scale producers (who choose to use GMOs).

Article by Anastasie Paradis, Zélie Pironin, Alexandre Tabone & Lauriane Chadrin