Rural Production and Livelihood System Love for Genetically

Rural Production and Livelihood System Love for Genetically Modified Seeds: Justified? ? Presented By: Amaninder Kaur (06) Nikhar Gyanesh(26)

India News, Hyderabad, 6 th May 2005 The Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has banned the sale of Monsanto's transgenic Bt cotton following its poor agronomic performance

The Times of India, 1 st December 2005 "Two days ago the government admitted for the first time that Bt cotton had indeed failed in parts of India. The Agriculture Minister conceded in the Rajya Sabha that Bt cotton had failed in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. He asked state governments in all cotton growing regions to institute an enquiry into the quality of seeds available to farmers and the spread of spurious seeds. At the same time, in Madhya Pradesh, the Governor has asked the state government to find out the causes of the failure of Bt cotton and called for compensation to farmers. The Mahyco-Monsanto and Rasi varieties of Bt cotton have reportedly failed in large parts of Madhya Pradesh causing serious losses to farmers. A report from Nimad district in Madhya Pradesh states that Bt cotton is causing allergic reactions in those coming into contact with it and cattle have perished near Bt cotton fields in the other adjoining districts of the state”

What are Genetically Modified Organisms…… Around one and a half decade old modern agricultural biotechnology employed genetic engineering techniques to transfer selected single genes from one organism to another, using bacteria or other means as vehicles of such transfer, resulting in “Genetically Engineered Organisms” or the (GEOs), also called transgenic organisms or the GM organisms

How is it done…. . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Tissue Culture DNA Finger Printing Molecular Breeding Diagnostic Transgenic Genomics Bioprospecting

Why was the Technique adopted. . • Augment the agricultural production by developing crops that were more resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses • Enhanced quality in terms of nutrition • Enhanced shelf life of the perishable farm produce • Conversion of organic waste into biofuels

Continued…. . • Conventional agriculture had become socially and environmentally unsustainable because of increased demand excessive use of agricultural inputs. • Pests were easy to be controlled by using the transgenic plants. • It was proclaimed that it would increase food production and eradicate mal nutrition. The whole approach for agriculture was to be modified to increased Sustainability and increased Productivity.

Some Facts……. • GM seeds in India found its base around a decade and a half before • Bt cotton, is the only commercially cultivable GM crop in India Source: Economic Times, 14 th Sept, 2005

Monsanto India Bt Cotton Sales

Table depicting the increase in area, production and yield of cotton in Gujarat with the advent of Bt cotton since 2003 -04……. Area, Production and Yield of cotton in Gujarat, 2004 Note: One bag contains approximately 170 kgs Source: As provided by Gujarat Agriculture Development as published in Mehta and Patel’ 2004

Bt Cotton, 2003 Maharashtra

Non Bt…….

Some Releases of Transgenic Crops Expected within the Next Few Years Source: Shiva and Crompton, Monopoly and Monoculture ‘ 2002

Bio. Agri Segment - 2002 -03 (Top 10 companies, including hybrid seed companies) *Bio. Spectrum estimates in Rs crore

The benefits of GM Seed … Improve crop characteristics 1. 2. 3. 4. Yield Pest resistance Herbicide tolerance Produce completely artificial substance

Continued…… Biological research has been transformed by technologies which allow us to comprehend the workings of genes, providing a new understanding of how plants function in their environments and of the molecular and cellular bases of their development. These areas critical to crop performance and food production

Cotton… The new technology modifies the crop’s biological software so that it can protect itself against its worst pest. It has enabled the plant to produce specific molecules in its leaves and bolls which kill the major pest, moth larvae

Some more Benefits…. . Modified staple foods guards against 1. Diabetes 2. Cardiovascular disease and 3. Colonic cancer

The Risks of GM seeds…. . The power of genetic modification techniques raises the possibility of human health, environmental, and economic problems, including unanticipated allergic responses to novel substances in foods, the spread of pest resistance or herbicide tolerance to wild plants, inadvertent toxicity to benign wildlife, and increasing control of agriculture by biotechnology corporations

Health… • • • Unknown long-term effects Allergens and toxins New viruses and bacteria • Super bugs

Environment…. • • Risk assessment Gene flow Biochemical instability Antibiotic resistance Decreased biodiversity Irreversibility of contamination Pest resistance

Social and Cultural…. . • Create monopolistic practices • Eugenics and genetic discrimination • Religious values

Economic…. . • • Trade barriers Competitive advantage Loss of markets Contamination of organic farming

Strategies…. . Bio-safety: To ensure safety of consumers, producers, farm animals and environment, Governments all over the world are following regulatory mechanisms and guidelines with an aim to reduce and eliminate the potential risks resulting from biotechnology and its products

Steps for Bio-safety… 1. 2. 3. 4. Bio-safety and Precautionary Approach Risk Assessments and Management Liability and Redress Framework for Socio. Economic Analysis

Trends…. . • Increase in the number of companies willing to invest in developing technologies • Develop transgenic technologies • Nutraceuticals • Increased consumer interest

Corporate…. • Nath Seeds has brought transgenic technology from China • JK Agri-Genetics has developed its own version of insect protected crops • Syngenta is come out with a different gene for insect protection • Metahelix is coming up with its own version

Discussions and Suggestions….