‘Spread of the Bt gene could make the brinjal a problematic weed'
An independent enquiry has revealed that the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE, also called genetically modified, or GM) Bt brinjal poses risks to the environment and possibly to human health. The occurrence of wild, weedy and also cultivated relatives presents a likelihood that the GE Bt gene will spread to these relatives but, so far, this has largely been overlooked in the risk assessments for GE Bt brinjal, it says.
Genetically engineered Bt brinjal and the implications for plant biodiversity – revisited, an independent study commissioned by Greenpeace International, finds that brinjal relatives do occur in the regions where cultivation of GE Bt brinjal is proposed, and that GE Bt brinjal may mate with these relatives to spread the GE Bt gene. Spread of the GE Bt gene would have considerable ecological implications, as well as implications for future crop contamination and farmers' rights.
Importantly, the spread of the GE Bt gene could result in the brinjal becoming an aggressive and problematic weed, the Greenpeace report suggests, while impressing upon the governments the need to employ the precautionary principle and not permit any authorisation of the outdoor cultivation of GE Bt brinjal, including field trials
The cultivation of GE Bt brinjal is proposed in some countries across Asia, including India, where there is currently a moratorium on commercialisation, and the Philippines, where field trials are going on. “There are many concerns with GE brinjal, which has been engineered to be resistant to certain insect pests using Bt genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. These concerns include food safety and possible effects on organisms other than the pest insect (non-target organisms), such as beneficial insects and butterflies.”
One of the least known aspects of the GE Bt brinjal is its ability to cross with wild relatives or cultivated varieties. This is because there are no recent reviews in the scientific literature concerning species related to brinjal, and where they grow across Asia. This information is vital when addressing concerns regarding cultivation of GE Bt brinjal, because insect-resistance gives a selective advantage to the plant, increasing its ability to survive and reproduce. If the GE Bt brinjal cross-pollinates wild, weedy or cultivated relatives, the result is a hybrid offspring, which may grow more aggressively and thus become a problem weed, the report says.
Keywords: Bt Brinjal, environment, health issues, Greenpeace report, plant biodiversity
I thought initially not to read it but later I read it and more surprisingly it was asked in IAS pre exam .. Thank you THE HINDU..
It is very disappointing to see such report appearing in "The Hindu". Please do verify the sources before publishing such stuff. I recommend interested reader to the book "The rational optimist" by Matt Ridley, a respected science-writer with very good credentials. The Hindu should understand that some people will read this article and simply come to the conclusion that GM food is bad. This conclusion is not only unfounded but simply wrong. We must question: What is wrong with GM? Not everything that grows naturally is good for humans. Plants did not evolve to be just eaten away by humans. They have their defenses too.
It is hightime papers stopped publishing scaremongering stories of this nature. No
one on this earth can say Greenpeace is a scientific organization. they are an
environmental crusader and if they have their way no one on this earth would be doing or eating anything but just sit on a tree and barely breathing. Bt brinjal is derived by inserting a tolerance gene into a bacterial DNA, this dna is then inserted to the brinjal dna. Ad the cells divide the bacteria which divide fast she the piece of DNA with tolerance and it get inserted by chance into the plant DNA. The plant DNA then takes it up in a very small number of cases. the
bacteria does not survive in the plant and if the plant does not want to it does not take up the tolerance DNA bit. this is a simple technique. farmers in India are losing millions as the brinjal family plants do not have tolerance to the insect and over 40% is lost in the field and chemicals are not that useful. I agree with comments here by Anand.
Nature is always in a fine state of balance. If there are 'n' species then the state of balance is balance(n), and it might have taken thousands of years to reach that state of balance - like the balance we have on this earth before the introduction of new species. If we now introduce a new species that never existed before, then there would be n+1 species, resulting in a new state of balance designated as balance(n+1). Since it takes zillions of years (certainly not decades) for nature's balance to work through, the wanton introduction of new species could result in outcomes one never expected. The vested interests referred to by a reader should actually apply to people/companies who care little about future generations but plenty much for present day short-term profits.
This is an unfortunate story and yet another canard by the Greenpeace to
stop the march of a progressive technology in the country. Agri-biotech
has huge potential for the nation and the farmers and vested interests
are trying to scuttle its growth.
I have read the entire "so called scientific study" paper. It is sad
that a reputable national newspaper publishing a non-scientific report
as a fact. There was no mention of the author's credentials.
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