GM crops: Are they safe?

ANTI-GM crop campaignA Crop Circle created by Greenpeace on the outskirts of New Delhi in protest against GM crop in 2013.

While genetic engineering is an evolving field, there is no clear-cut idea about the impact of GM crops on human health and the ecosystem. Subsequently, the safety concerns over consumption of food from GM crops is the subject of a long-standing debate

The debate on GM crops or genetically modified crops is one of the longest-running ever since, the transgenic Flavr Savr tomato was approved by the FDA for marketing in the U.S. in 1994. While most scientists endorse the crops to be safe for consumption, activists and farmers have opposed the whole idea. While science argues that food from genetically modified crops is not inherently riskier to human health than conventional food, public concern is related to safety and regulation. Anything that goes against Nature is treated with caution.

Recently, more than 100 Nobel laureates wrote to Greenpeace, a non-government environmental organization, to stop the anti-GMO campaign. They specifically drew support to the Golden Rice, which is said to have the potential to reduce or eliminate much of the death and disease caused by a vitamin A deficiency (VAD). It is said to have the greatest impact on the poorest people in Africa and Southeast Asia

What are GM crops?

The crops whose DNA has been modified using genetic engineering techniques to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species, is called a GM crop. Genes carry the instructions for all the characteristics that an organism inherits.

The first genetically modified plant was produced in 1983, using antibiotic-resistant tobacco. In the case of the transgenic Flavr Savr tomato, it was instilled with the quality of delayed ripening. Research and development of GMOs have been going on for more than 30 years.

Why modify?

One of the main objectives is to improve crop protection, through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses. Resistance against insects is achieved by incorporating the gene for a toxin production into the food plant. This toxin is currently used as a conventional insecticide in agriculture and is safe for human consumption, according to WHO.

The concerns

Allergic effects, gastronomical effects due to gene transfer and migration of genes are some of the concerns. The need for safety testing is widely felt.

Advantages

Genetically modified crops can improve yield, as they are disease-resistant. They are also resistant towards adverse weather condition and the crops can be modified to improve nutritional value.

Some of the food items created from GM crops include corn, soybean, sugar beets, potatoes, tomato, salmon and oils.

The Indian story

Bt cotton is the only genetically modified crop allowed in India. Cotton yield more than doubled in the first decade since its introduction in 2002. But the researches have found that the farmers did not find it to be that successful. Bt brinjal was cleared for commercialisation in 2009. But nothing came of it, as moratoriums were imposed by then Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh and his successor Jayanthi Natarajan following opposition from civil society groups and brinjal-growing states.