11.11.2000

In reply to Alessandro Pellegrineschi message [10 November]:

Please do not present the problem in this way. Till now we have avoided a theoretical or ideological or only genetically-based debate between people in favour of and against transgenic plants. We have faced the theme of the conference, concerning the interest of biotechnology to reduce hunger and increase food security. As Dr Rosset wrote so clearly [9 November], "if the underlying causes are largely tied to genotype constraints, then we can accept that GE might be a logical part of the solution". GE scientists have to enter in this debate if we want a right assesment on "in which cases?, in which conditions?" GE could be an interesting tool for improving food security.

If we take it as a principle that it is an interesting tool, we will not go on.

Michel FERRY
Directeur scientifique
Station de Recherche sur le Palmier Dattier
et les Systèmes de Production en Zones Arides
Apartado 996
03201 ELCHE
Espagne
tél: 34.965421551
fax: 34.965423706
e-mail: m.ferry@wanadoo.es

[To contribute to this conference, send your message to biotech-room1@mailserv.fao.org For further information on the FAO Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture see http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp ]

-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod1

Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2000 10:24 AM
To: 'biotech-room1@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: GMOs- potential negative effects in developing countries

I agree with Peter Rosset [10 November] when he said that the debate should focus on genetic engineering and GMOs, but still the conference theme is not restrictive and by reading some of the contributions it seems there is a confusion.

Transgenic organisms (GMOs) resulting from the introduction of cloned genes from one species to another raise the question of how pure are these cloned genes? Is it not so that some trailing and flanking DNA segments remain with the cloned genes? What will be the effects of these undesired DNA segments which might be inserted with the gene itself? Inserting the gene, will it be fixed at the right place of the genome, and what will be the consequences of an erratic location? Are there enough trials to prove the safety of such products? Those are the questions that make people wonder about GMOs. Although it is the fastest way of exploiting known genes, we can't ignore possible negative effects first on human, and second on the organism population in which the gene has been introduced.

The long term consequences of GMOs on the environment must be a concern of scientists, particularly for the target countries in this conference. For the case of Africa that I know the best, any disaster resulting from the introduction of GMOs will add to multiple adverse situations already existing in this part of the world. The developing countries should not be considered as fields of experiment for GMO-advocating scientists and companies. I do not have anything against GMOs as long as scientists will take the time to test the safety of these products for the environment, human included. For poverty and hunger reasons, we (from developing countries) should not accept whatever is proposed to us. One major reason for not accepting GMOs is the reaction of the public opinion against these products in Western Europe. As I mentioned in my first contribution (9 November), soil fertility and water management will contribute better to decrease hunger in Africa. As an example, we have seen Israel transform desert areas in green and productive lands.

Agricultural biotechnology can help to reduce hunger and increase food security in developing countries, but genetic engineering and GMOs are not the best way of achieving such goals.

Delphin Koudandé
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group
Wageningen University
P.O. Box 338
6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
Tel. 00 317 484627
Fax. 00 317 483929
Delphin.Koudande@Alg.VF.WAU.NL

-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod1
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2000 10:41 AM
To: 'biotech-room1@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: Six points about transgenic crops

Hello, I'm Allan Hruska, Coordinator for the Central America Integrated Pest

Management Program coordinated by Zamorano. [According to their Website, Zamorano is a Pan-American Center of higher education whose mission is to prepare leaders for the Americas in sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, agroindustry, natural resources management and rural development...Moderator]

1. Neither transgenic crops nor other biotechnologies will solve world hunger. We should recognize this and put behind us any contrary notions. World hunger is caused by lack of access to food. Social-economic problems are not solved with technical solutions.

2. Is that a reason to not pursue useful transgenic crops? No. Why shouldn't we explore all possible avenues to increase the quantity and quality of food, at least as long as the world's population continues to grow and more and better food will be needed?

3. Are transgenics the only way to increase the quantity and quality of food? No. There are many ways and they should all be explored.

4. Don't transgenics pose health and environmental risks? Probably. They should be studied, understood, and minimized.

5. Do transgenics pose greater risks than other crop production tactics? Maybe in some cases, definitely not in others. While using polycultures may be desirable, the reality in much of the developing world is that crop "protection" is heavily dependent on very dangerous agrichemicals. These are known dangers, not potential risks.

6. Why do transgenics generate such strong negative emotive reactions? Because what's really being fought, under the guise of transgenics, are two major battles: fears of corporate control and trade issues. The issue of corporate control is what truly makes blood boil, not transgenic plants. It would be far more interesting to directly discuss the root causes of the disagreements, rather than looking for ecological arguments to argue against corporate control of agricultural technology.

Allan J. Hruska, PhD
Regional Coordinator
PROMIPAC-Zamorano
Managua,
Nicaragua
ajhruska@hotmail.com

[Thanks to Allan Hruska for these clear, well-expressed views. The last point he makes about "fears of corporate control" is something that came up strongly in the first confererence of this Forum (on 'How appropriate are currently available biotechnologies in the crop sector for food production and agriculture in developing countries') and is summarised in the early part of the Summary Document of Conference 1, posted on 2 October to Forum members.......Moderator]

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