"Perhaps it is diabolical to say that to win we should not allow consumers to choose, but probably that is the solution. "
Dale Adolphe, director of the Canadian Seed Growers Association, during a conference in March-April 2002.
Each
After more talk of genetically modified foods, now we know that scientists are able to isolate specific genes and can insert them into the agencies, particularly in food crops. The reasons for these practices range from increasing crop, the achievement of crops resistant to infections and pests, or even the injection of additional nutrients and vitamins. However, the practice of genetic engineering of crops is a double edged sword to be an interference with nature that damages the ecosystem, as well as eliminating threats target also kills other links in the chain of biodiversity . Although there are studies that prove that GM food consumption in the long term it reduces fertility in mice, the effect on human health remains a controversial issue which requires more time to prove their existence. A risk that, like it or not, if we eat only organic food, we are forced to run because the modified ingredients are everywhere and do not necessarily appear on the labels. Transgenics: A threat to the planet:
The introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in agriculture and food goes back only a few years ago, and yet they are already very present in our fields and in the products they consume. This rapid development of transgenic contrasts with the lack of information and research available on their potential environmental, health and social.
The biotech industry tells the public that genetic engineering is a technique that will bring benefits to mankind. But the supposed benefits have not come true in countries where GM is grown, whereas the risks posed by genetic engineering has been increasingly verified.
the use of GMOs has a great impact in fields as diverse as agriculture, health, production and distribution of food, environmental protection and food security, among others.
Some important considerations:
Health: consumers are reluctant to replace their usual food for genetically modified food whose safety has not been demonstrated.
Free choice of the farmer and the consumer: GMO contamination of seeds, crops and food, lack of segregation of GM crops and labeling failures compromise the freedom of choice for farmers when selecting the different agricultural practices and the free choice of consumers to buy GM-free food.
Ethics: for some, the decision not to eat GM foods does not depend on more or less demonstrated safety, but they are unnatural and unnecessary. Some believe that genetic engineering deeply offends the principles of the relationship between humanity and nature.
Policy: the economic stakes give rise to all sorts of political pressure by the biotech companies, but also by some governments totally disregard environmental and social considerations.
equitable distribution of wealth: the costly research associated development of GMOs and the international rules of intellectual property protection created an oligopoly of a handful of multinationals on the transgenic seed market and privatize genetic material should be the heritage of humanity.
Food Sovereignty: If it is imposed based biotechnology in global agriculture, food security in terms of food availability will fall into very few hands, preventing them from reaching the people's food sovereignty.
What GM is grown in the world:
75% are herbicide tolerance: the introduced gene allows the use of broad spectrum herbicides (glyphosate or glufosinate ammonium as a whole) without the transgenic plant is concerned, although other plants die. The plant is tolerant to a particular substance, sold by the same company that distributes seeds (eg using the mark for Monsanto's Roundup herbicide glyphosate-tolerant plants).
17% have resistance to insects, the transgenic plants in which introduced the Bt gene produces an insecticidal toxin.
8% have both properties at once. Corn
Bt transgenic corn, developed to produce a poison which alienates the borer also kills insects that feed on other species and butterfly larvae feed on pollen, which upset the balance of the ecosystem, according to a Cornell University study. Soy
Current variety "Roundup Ready", developed by Monsanto, occupies 60% of the area devoted to soybeans in the world. In the United States and Argentina, 90% of the soya is GM in Brazil, the areas of genetically modified soybeans has risen from 5 million hectares in 2004 to 9.4 million in 2005, or an increase of 88%.
Of all the crops, soybean is the most modified. In 2007, more than half of the world's soy come from genetically modified strains. Soy is modified for various purposes. Mainly to improve their resistance to insects and fungi, and also to enrich their vitamins, fat and protein and later use in animal feed. Soy is also essential for the creation of chemicals for pharmaceutical use.
Since soy is one of the most heavily modified crops (and one of the most widely used food additive) is likely if the label includes soybeans, it was derived from genetically modified material. Refers not only to tofu and soy milk, but all foods that include ingredients derived from soybeans. So basic and common foods such as bread, cereals, ice cream and chocolate.
Milk
One of the most controversial GM food is the bovine growth hormone rBGH, which is synthesized from genetically modified bacteria. Produces higher yields of milk-producing cells to keep the cow alive for longer than normal. Although there is no formal difference between rBGH milk and regular milk, critics point out that rBGH cows are more prone to disease, which involves higher concentrations of antibiotics that are filtered bovine milk (source: Epstein).
There are divisions on the safety of milk from of cows that have been injected with rBGH growth hormones that, in principle, are illegal in the European Union and Australia, although est OTHERS ARE allowed in the United States. However, the choice of organic milk is the safest, because it guarantees that the livestock has not been fed GM feed.
Rapeseed
Rapeseed oil, also known as canola oil (a name derived from "Canadian oil, low acid") is one of crops in the most widely used genetic engineering. In western Canada, 80 percent of crops are of transgenic canola (Canola Council). Used for animal feed, rapeseed is modified to be more resistant to certain herbicides. However, GM canola can transfer their resistance around and become useless to pesticides.
One worrying aspect of GM canola is that it produces one of the main pollen used by bees to produce honey. German scientists found that one third of the pollen in the Canadian honey came from GM oilseed rape, which means that all the honey that comes from Canada (unless otherwise specified label) could be classified as GM (source: GMO Compass).
Aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener 200 times more potent than sugar. Although technically it is an artificial substance and does not occur in nature, aspartame is the result of a combination of two natural amino acids. Two different species of bacteria produce these acids, and in some cases, the bacteria are modified to boost performance.
thus Is aspartame dangerous? Aspartame itself does not contain genetic material, but the debate remains open about their safety. In some countries is prohibited its use for human consumption. So far, laboratory rats fed aspartame had higher rates of lymphoma and leukemia than those who do not consume (source: Associated Press) and is a common sweetener in soft drinks and low-calorie desserts.
"92% of the English population believes that it should be compulsory on the label, if a food is genetically modified."
Survey Sociological Research Institute 2412th reviews and English attitudes towards biotechnology '(March-April 2001).
Effects of transgenic health:
Emergence of new allergies by introducing new proteins in food.
In the U.S., in the famous case called "Starlink corn", in 2000, were found in the food chain traces of GM corn was not approved for human consumption and causing serious allergic reactions .
emergence of new toxins in food (eg due to Bt crops, or new proteins present in the GMO).
generation antibiotic resistance of bacteria pathogenic to humans.
Increased food contamination by greater use of chemicals in agriculture.
are few scientific studies to date on the safety of GMOs to human health.
The process of inserting foreign genes into an organism is unclear, as no effects may occur previstos.Por example, recently showed that Cry1A protein present in Bt corn had
allergenic responses induced in mice.
Moreover, the methods used for health analysis shed no light on long-term effects and toxicity of prolonged exposure to small doses.
This fully justifies the application of the Precautionary Principle.
Beyond environmental risks directly related to human health for many remain a subject of debate, GMOs pose questions about the role of the farmer but also on the agricultural model.
Farmers who choose to use GMO seeds are linked to a technology package, which includes fertilizers, seeds and herbicides. This package is usually accompanied by an obligation to purchase inputs and crop sales to the dealer. This increases the dependence of producers
to businesses. The producer, integrated, could be considered as a worker who has yet to take all the risks associated with agricultural production. Not allowed to save GM seed from one year to another, and have to buy each year to the seed production business. Exercises no control over seeds despite taking the risks associated with its cultivation (climate risk, health risk, etc.).
addition, the development of GMO seeds leads to a loss of biodiversity and national control over seeds important each day are disappearing varieties of seeds.
What if the companies withdraw from the country and decide to invest elsewhere?
"No scientist can deny the possibility of changing the fundamental genetic structure of a food, can cause new diseases or health problems. No long term studies proving the safety of genetically modified crops. Despite this, transgenic crops are being tested on consumers. "
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