Global food experts have come out unanimously against GM crops declaring that there is no evidence to show that GM crops help enhance a nation’s security.
Prof. Jack Heinemann from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Christchurch, New Zealand, and a lead author of the prestigious International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge (IAASTD) report pointed out that GM crops were presently confined to five countries, including the US, which was using 30 per cent of agricultural land for these crops. “The question to be asked is whether GM is an appropriate technology to achieve food sovereignty. Only two countries in the world, both in South America, grow GM on more than 40 per cent of their agricultural land and both are suffering from an increased food insecurity. Most of their poor neighbours that have not adopted GM have improved food security statistics,’’ said Prof. Heinemann.
Prof. Hans Herren, president of Millennium Institute, Washington, co-chair of the IAASTD Report and recipient of the World Food Prize, pointed out that trials of BT crops must be extended beyond the present 90 day timeline.
“There is increasing evidence to show that feeding rats BT food results in toxicity in (their) liver and kidney. Does this escalate into something serious. We need to extend the trials to find out,” said Prof. Herren.
Dr Pushp Mittra Bhargava, former V-C of National Knowledge Commission, also pointed out at the growing body of information amongst the scientific community against these crops.