DeQoded: The GM Crops Controversy Explained

What are GM crops and what is so controversial about them? The Quint ‘DeQodes’ the facts.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) – especially genetically modified (GM) crops – have been a contentious issue, both in India and around the world. NGOs and environmental groups have been fervently up in arms against them.

Such were the levels of dissent that GM trials have been banned for the last 5 years. But recently the Modi government has quietly allowed the re-trial of GM crops, and 8 states have already begun doing so.

This has angered anti-GM activists yet again. But what is so contentious about GMOs and GM crops in the first place?

The Science: What Are GMOs?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally.

Genetically modified crops or GM crops are GMOs with DNA that makes the crops more pest resistant, which naturally raises the crop yield.

Bt Cotton is a GM crop being grown in India, while Bt Brinjal is on trial.

Controversies Have Dogged GMOs for Years

Anti-GM crop activists basically make two arguments:

1. They Claim GM Crops are Unhealthy.

Those against GM crops claim that there is enough evidence to show that GM crops cause food allergies, increased toxicity, decreased nutritional value, and antibiotic resistance.

2. They Claim Companies that Manufacture GM Crops Exploit Farmers.

Anti-GM activists say GMO manufacturing companies hold farmers of developing countries to ransom with their hybrid seeds that cost more than regular seeds and which are made sterile, through ‘terminator’ technology. This means farmers have to buy new seeds every time they sow a fresh crop.

What do GM Controversies Spell for India?

The result of all the controversy over GMOs? A complete halt to all research and field trials in India.

Here is a timeline:

2006 – Activists file a PIL against GM crops in the Supreme Court.

2010 – The centre stops commercial production of Bt brinjal. No Objection Certificates from states made mandatory to conduct field trials.

2012 – A parliamentary committee seeks moratorium on field trials of all GM food crops.

July 2013 – A Supreme Court-appointed panel suggests moratorium on GM field trials. Environment Minister Jayanti Natrajan puts trials on hold.

Dec 2013 – Veerappa Moily takes charge of environment ministry.

Feb 2014 – Moily reverses Natrajan’s stand, clears the way for field trials of GM crops.

The Counter-Arguments

Proponents of GMOs, however, are not backing down.

In the face of growing protests against the genetically modified crops, this group argues that enough studies have been carried out which disprove any sign of adverse effects on health.

The higher cost of hybrid seeds is also justified, they claim, due to other benefits of growing GM crops – which are that GM crops give higher yields and are highly resistant to pests. This means that the plant will need less herbicides and pesticides.

And what of the claim that such seeds are sterile? The yay-sayers believe that the seed ‘terminator’ technology is only a myth that has taken its own course.

Is it Time to go Lenient on GM Crops?

Though the arguments over GMOs seem never ending, here are facts for anti-GMO activists to consider:

1. The US uses over 70% of its arable land to grow a number of GM crops while India uses just 11% to grow GM cotton.

2. 80 % of all processed food sold in American shops contain GM ingredients. These have been in the market for 20 years with no ill-effects documented.

3. In 2013, a paper linking GM food to tumours in rats was withdrawn from journals after publishers cited there was not enough evidence to prove the link between the tumours and GM food.

This was a big blow to anti-GM activists as that paper had been popularly cited as evidence against GMOs.

4. Since the adoption of Bt Cotton in 2001, yields have gone up from 280 kg per hectare to 580 kg per hectare in 2008-09.

In light of this new evidence, is it time that GMOs finally be looked upon with less suspicion and greater trust?

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.