Genetically Modified Organisms and ethical concerns
There has been a huge controversy since the advent of recombinant DNA technology in respect of its use to transform agricultural plants and animals. While those who are in favour of this technology offer their arguments centering around the possible role of GMOs in lowering the costs of farm production, resulting in potential benefits to farmers, the arguments against refer to a long list of problems, although many of them are hypothetical or speculative in nature. The issues cited against include environmental and food safety risks and the likelihood of potential hazards. Often it is pointed out that assessment of possible risk of this technology have neglected two categories of hazards: impact on animals and socio‐economic condition of small and marginal farmers. There are also genuine concerns about the extension of intellectual property rights to genes and genomes, and their impact on the use, production and control of seeds.
The issues raised by the critics are really complex. However, the positive impact of GM crops in increasing production and productivity so far achieved has already been a big boon to agricultural production and it is very unlikely that the technology in any case be avoided. A report by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) on ‘Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016,’ stated that GM Crop cultivation has shown a 110-fold increase in adoption rate globally from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 185.1 million hectares in 2016. While in 2010 India imposed a moratorium on Bt brinjal, there has been a significant shift in its policy towards GM crops as evidenced by the steps being initiated in 2016 towards commercial release of GM mustard. India has completed the process of inviting public comments on the biosafety dossier of GM mustard, seeking permission for environmental release of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 and parental lines expressing barnase, barstar and bar genes.
It is noteworthy that GMO crops are now grown by approximately 18 million farmers around the world, mostly in the developing countries. More than 75 countries import, grow and/or research on GMOs, and by 2016, 26 countries, including 19 developing countries, started growing GM crops. As of 2016, the top five countries growing GMOs in terms of crop area are the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India. India is now the world’s number one producer of cotton, the only GM plant species introduced commercially in the country in the year 2002. Virtually all cotton grown in the country today is genetically modified. However, India has not yet allowed growing GMO crops for food.
Even if the environmental and health concerns for GM crops are ignored, one major concern about them is the possible control of the world’s food supply through GM crops in future by just a few agribusinesses. As the seeds from GM crops are patented by the commercial agencies producing them, the farmers are not allowed to save their seed. This means that the farmers who traditionally saved and shared seed from one harvest to the next would be compelled to buy commercial seeds every year at a price decided by the producer company. Countries such as Brazil, US and Argentina that have adopted GM seeds, have already reduced the farmers’ independence in their choice of seeds. In fact, it came up in a report published in 2012 that just 10 companies controlled 75% of global seed sales.
Although GM food crops are seen by many as the possible solution for the growing world hunger with the consistent explosion of world population, a fundamental question still remains about the real cause of this hunger. It is often said that it is politics, war and waste that causes world hunger and not a lack of food.
In addition to the GM crops, there has been a substantial increase in the number of genetically modified animals used in agriculture in recent years. Researchers have genetically engineered a number of mammals, from laboratory animals to farm animals, as well as birds, fish and insects. One major advantage of generating genetically engineered animals is that they enable scientists to study basic biology and the relationships between mutations and disease. On the other hand, the farm animals can also be genetically modified to enhance specific characteristics, particularly those related to productive and reproductive traits. These may also aimed at increasing disease resistance, or improving the nutritional value of the products. While these advantages have drawn attention of the global researchers to produce more genetically modified animals, there are important safety concerns associated with this technology. First of all, the transfer of genetic material from one species to another may raise potentially serious health issues for animals and humans. Scientists point out that there is a potential risk of spread of new or hitherto unknown diseases from genetically engineered animals to non-genetically engineered animals, and even to humans.
While ethical issues, including concerns for animal welfare, can arise at all stages in the generation and life span of an individual genetically engineered animal, one of the major concern is non-availability of sufficient data in respect of net welfare impacts to genetically engineered animals or to those animals required for their creation. Genetic engineering techniques have been described as both unpredictable and inefficient. This is partially due to the limitations in controlling the integration site of foreign DNA, which is inherent in some genetic engineering techniques. With other more refined techniques that allow greater control of DNA integration, sometimes unpredictable interaction of the introduced DNA with host genes may lead to some unexpected outcomes.
In spite of several arguments against introduction of genetically modified crops and animals, the fact remains that today’s world can no longer avoid continuation of research in this line owing to several reasons. By 2050, the world’s population is expected to expand from today’s 7 billion to way beyond 9 billion, and to meet the growing demand for food, the global food production will have to double over the next 35 years (as advocated by UNO). Considering this, biotechnology is stated to be the only way to feed the growing population by increasing productivity and total yield. GMOs are comparatively cheaper and can cut costs for consumers and raise livelihoods for farmers in the developing countries. On the other hand, with introduction of pest-resistant edible crops and disease-resistant farm animals, there will be significant decrease in use of hazardous pesticides and antibiotics in future. Genetic modification can also give food a longer shelf-life and thereby reduce spoilage of food crops to a great extent. Genetically modified crops can also be developed with more nutritive values, increased digestibility and targeted therapeutic activities.
A very significant and noteworthy fact is that in spite of extensive consumption of GM foods in the developed countries for more than 25 years by now, there is no evidence so far of any distinct harm from GMOs. This may be considered as the blue line in favour of GMOs.
Dr. Probodh Borah
Professor & Head
Department of Animal Biotechnology
College of Veterinary Science, AAU
Khanapara, Guwahati-781022
