Genetic crops raise concern
OTC 15.10.98 02:00
Nairobi (The Nation, October 14, 1998) - The World Food Day
(October 16) will this year be marked amid increasing worldwide
concern over the role of genetic engineering of crops, and
especially that of multinationals promoting the technology. Over
30 million acres of farmland is under genetically modified crops
- up from four to six million acres two years ago.
Although the majority are in the US and Canada, the target of the
technology is the developing world, particularly sub-Saharan
Africa, where the promoters argue it will "help feed hungry
people and increase productivity."
So far, the London-based information NGO, Panos, says 64
varieties of genetically engineered crops have been approved in
the US and Canada and 20 in Japan. The use of crop genetic
engineering (biotechnology) is opposed by scientists, farmers and
consumers.
The global market for agricultural seed is worth nearly $45
billion a year, a third of which is commercial proprietary seed -
seed uniformly produced in bulk.
The market is increasingly dominated by only a few large
corporations developing biotechnology. The top 10 companies
controlled 30 per cent of worldwide sales early this year.
They include Monsanto, Dupont, Dow Elanco, Novartis, Agrevo and
Zeneca which concentrate on high volume crops with good profits
such as Soya beans, maize, cotton, oil seed rape (lanola),
potatoes and tomatoes.
Monsanto - an American multinational - is a good example of the
race for power consolidation and profiteering. In less than two
years, it has spent $8 billion acquiring seed and biotechnology
companies.
Monsanto has also patented technology dubbed "Terminator
gene" to prevent seeds saved by farmers from germinating.
Modern hybrids already don't reproduce reliably, forcing farmers
to buy seeds every year. The "terminator gene"
technology will compound the farmers problem by introducing
sterility to non-hybrid crops such as wheat. The company has
already applied for patents in 78 countries and the first
commercially available seeds are likely to be in the market by
the year 2000.
Last year, a rice patent was granted to a Texan firm, Rice Tech,
on a variety of rice produced by crossing Indian Basmati rice
with the US "semi-dwarf" variety. Under the patent the
company claims ownership of Basmati rice grown in the West and
future rights on any new varieties produced by crossing the new
variety with traditional Asian strains.
The US Government approval of the patent outraged farmers in the
Indian sub-continent who protested against a foreign firm laying
claim their "national resource". Basmati is a high
quality rice grown only in India, Pakistan and Nepal.
For India and Pakistan, it was another example of biopiracy.
Another patent which has aroused wide protest was granted to
Monsanto on Neem, a tree with agricultural and medicinal uses
known in Kenya as "Muarbaini." Monsanto has taken out
patents on Neem products, claiming broad fungicidal and
insecticidal uses.
Neem is used as a pesticide, insecticide, fertiliser, medicine,
fuel and even as a contraceptive. It has been used in the
manufacture of products including drugs, soaps and toothpaste.
Neem-based toothpaste is available in some Nairobi supermarkets.
It is also being promoted by Icipe as an alternative to
artificial fertilisers since it has no costs to the farmer and
has no harmful side effects. It also controls pests, especially
coffee bugs.
By Patenting The Neem Tree, Monsanto Will Deprive Many Kenyans Of
Their Source Of Inexpensive Medical Treatment.
By Ema Muli
Copyright 1998 The Nation. Distributed via Africa News Online.
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Copyright 1998