Passionate arguments were heard on Wednesday for and against GM or genetically-modified technology in an event that was held on the sidelines of the CoP MoP 6. Scientists from Europe and Africa presented their studies on the observed health effects of GM foods and the resistance that insects are developing towards GM varieties.
Representatives of the GM industry offered counter-arguments and said the evidence presented in two papers was incorrect.
Robin Mesnage, a scientist at the University of Caen in France was part of a study that found tumours developing in rats after they were fed Bt maize with and without a herbicide called Roundup. The paper was published in the prestigious journal, Food and Chemical Technology.
“There are insufficiencies in the health risk assessment of some 19 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). These rats fed with GMO with or without Roundup developed liver and kidney problems in males while females developed mammary tumours,” Mr Mesnage said.
Prof. Johnnie van den Berg of North West University in South Africa presented his observations of insects that have developed resistance to Bt maize in that country. He blamed the government and industry for not having proper management systems in place.
“We conducted research in a Bt maize field in South Africa and found that 71 per cent of Bt maize crop contained pests,” he said.
Refuge crops, which were non-Bt crops, were advised to be planted along with Bt maize but still resistance developed. “Industry says non-compliance to refuge requirements by farmers is the reason for resistance development by insects. But there is no reporting, there is nobody to scrutinise reports, if any. We learnt that we can’t just leave technology out there; you have to manage it and train the farmers. Is the industry reporting to the regulatory authority and what is the action plan?” the professor asked.
A representative of the GMO industry disagreed with Prof. van den Berg: “If the insects are developing resistance to GM then we are back to square one. It is like the beginning. So, if pesticide usage has decreased for some years then it is good.”