Bt corn ban / GM soy problems in Brazil / Bad economics of Bt corn (24/6/2005) | |
1.Bad Economics of Bt corn in the Philippines COMMENT In an area of South Cotabatoin the Philippines local officials have announced a ban on the entry and planting of genetically-engineered crops, especially Bt corn, as part of their moves to transform the municipality into a GM- and "chemical-free" zone and a haven for organic crops. Coincidentally, a new report (item 3) argues that Bt corn has neither proven to be a practical, nor ecologically sustainable option for small farmers in the Philippines for the following reasons: 1. The corn borer is a pest that is manageable. There are cheaper, readily available and proven non-GM means of controlling the corn borer. 2. Bt corn seeds are a lot more expensive. 3. Yield from non-Bt varieties can match if not exceed Bt varieties. 4. There are strong indications of negative effects on the soil ecosystem and non-target organisms. 5. Farmers may be sued for patent infringement or for saving Bt corn seeds or from contamination of their crops (see item 3) Meanwhile, the Brazialian agronomist, Ventura Barbeiro, is warning farmers there that any reduction in agrochemical use during the first few years of growing GM soy will rapidly disappear. Barbeiro says that already in the state of Mato Grosso, there are problems with weed resistance. 1.SoCot town bans Bt corn, pushes organic farming SURALLAH, South Cotabato -- Local officials here declared to ban the entry and planting of genetically-engineered crops in the area, especially of the controversial Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, as part of their moves to transform the municipality into a "chemical-free zone" and a haven for organic crops. Surallah Mayor Romulo Solivio made the declaration Wednesday afternoon after launching organic farming as the municipal government's flagship agriculture program for the next three years. "We will work for the changing of our farming systems from conventional to traditional sustainable agriculture through organic and biodynamic farming," Solivio said in a press conference. Dubbed "Palangumhan Aton Respituhon, Atimanon, Ibalik sa Sinadto kag Organiko" (PARAISO), Solivio said the program provides for a gradual phaseout of the use of non-organic fertilizers and pesticides in the town's 17 barangays. He said it also pushes for the massive planting of organic rice, which had been identified as the town's main product under the national government's "One Town One Product" program. The municipal government initially tapped the services of the Don Bosco youth training center, a non-government training institution specializing on organic farming, based in Makilala town in Cotabato Province for the training of local farmers. To complement the program's implementation, Solivio said they will set as an official policy the banning of the entry, sale and planting of biotechnology products or genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in the municipality. He specifically cited a ban on the planting of the corn-borer resistant Bt corn produced by seed company Monsanto. "The organic farming principle essentially requires us to adopt only the traditional and natural farming systems and product and we don't intend to make any compromises or excuses," Solivio said. Solivio said he will also personally launch a campaign in the province for the adoption of the organic farming systems and the rejection of the GMOs. "We will make this stand known throughout the province and the neighboring areas by sponsoring a resolution against GMOs in our upcoming LMP (League of Municipalities of the Philippines) meeting," he said. Solivio said they expect such stand to draw negative reactions and pressures from various groups, especially from seed companies and government agencies advocating biotechnology, but stressed that they will not give in to them. "For many years, we allowed the use of chemicals and these new crop technologies but what happened? Our farmers only became dependent on expensive inorganic inputs and remained poor," he said. "We need to find solutions to these problems and as a leader, I have the political will to do what is necessary," Solivio added. The distribution and planting of Bt corn has been facing strong opposition from the Catholic church and environmental groups due to its supposed health and environmental risks. But the Department of Agriculture and seed producer Monsanto have repeatedly assured the safety of the Bt corn. Bt corn, which was developed to resist Asiatic corn borers, was distributed commercially in the Philippines beginning in 2003 after obtaining approval from the government in late 2002. 3.The Economics of Bt corn in the Philippines DOES IT HAVE TO BE BT CORN? (OR BT CORN IS NOT THE BEST OPTION) To date, Bt corn has neither proven to be a practical, nor ecologically sustainable option for small Filipino farmers for the following reasons: 4. There are strong indications of negative effects to the soil ecosystem and non-target organisms. 5. Farmers may be sued for patent infringement or be exposed to other legal challenges from saving Bt corn seeds or from contamination of their crops. Clearly, Bt corn is not a viable option for small Filipino farmers. It is an economic fluke. Bt corn has shown the true intentions of the GE companies, whose main motive for forcing GE crops on the world is, and remain to be, profit maximization. GREENPEACE DEMANDS FOR THE GOVERNMENT: 1. To stop the release of new GE crops into the environment; 2. Stop the importation of new GE crops; 3. Establish efficient and sufficient segregation systems for GE and non-GE grains; 4. Institute rehabilitation and mitigation measures for areas that have been contaminated; 5. Speed up the promulgation of legislative measures that would address problems brought about by Genetic Engineering; and 6. Allocate substantial financial and technical support for the development of non-GE alternatives. 3.Use of GM soy can aggravate problems for farmers, says agronomist Andre Deak Brasilia - After a few years of planting genetically-modified (GM) soy, Brazilian farmers are going to have to spend more money on agrichemicals, says Greenpeace agronomist, Ventura Barbeiro. "The advantage of using less agrichemicals during the first years of GM soy use will disappear rapidly. Without a doubt there is an initial reduction in agrichemical use, but then the problem with weeds comes back," he says. According to Barbeiro, farmers in the US who plant GM soy that is resistant to certain weeds have found that after three years they have to use more herbicides, especially glyphosate, that is manufactured by Monsanto. Barbeiro says that already in the state of Mato Grosso, there are weeds that are resistant to glyphosate. With this problem in mind, the Brazilian Farm Research Corporation (Embrapa) has prepared three types of Roundup Ready (RR) GM soy seeds specially adapted for the Brazilian savannah (cerrado) region. However, Barbeiro says that is not a good solution because RR seeds are patented by Monsanto. "What Embrapa is doing is introducing Monsanto seeds into Brazilian varieties. That is not progress, at all. Farmers who use these Embrapa seeds will pay royalties to Embrapa and Monsanto." Barbeiro goes on to warn that continuous GM seed use is also detrimental to human health and the environment. "Use of GM soy seeds will eventually contaminate rivers," he declared. "The solution is to use agri-ecological methods of farming, instead of agrichemistry. In the Cangara da Serra region, near Cuiaba, in Mato Grosso, Brazil's largest agri-ecological soy farm is in operation. People should visit it," says Barbeiro. Speaking for Embrapa, Plinio Itamar de Souza, who headed the team that worked on the GM soy seeds for the corporation, says that they will require herbicides that are less aggressive against the environment. Souza says the research on the three types of soy seeds took seven years. |