The State of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) in the Philippines
GMO are living organism/s
modified genetically through the introduction of DNA from other species of
likewise living organisms. Plants, animals and seeds are commonly the objects of the process. Genetic modification cannot occur by natural
process and hence it is distinctively and entirely different from natural cross-breeding.
Briefly, genetic modification in the context of this writing is a laboratory
process conducted not only with persistence of life as an object, but more so
for business profit. The process basically involves injection of foreign genetic
material to a selected target sight in a host gene to alter its genetic code thereby
creating a new genetic expression, like greater resistance to diseases which should result to reduction in
pesticide use and consequently increase in crop yield. It is a common knowledge that a substantial
percentage of food in the US
has ingredients of GMO and its derivatives. Prime objects of GMO companies are
wheat, corn, rice, other fruits and vegetables like soybeans, potato, tomato,
squash, canola, cotton seed, papaya sunset cultivar, apple, etc. GMO
derivatives are likewise present as product component of milled corn and soy, and
hence are also present in pancakes, muffins, donuts, breading, baby food, cereals,
taco chips, tortillas, corn chips, salad dressings, soup, powdered beverages,
frozen dessert, infant formulas among others. GMO animals like salmon and
bovines are no longer uncommon.
GMO companies and proponents lay
claim to the following benefits of GMO food:
- Safe and Nutritious compared to naturally grown
- Increase crop yield
- Reduce pesticide use
- Beneficial to farmers
- Beneficial to environment
- Arrest climate change
- Reduce energy consumption
- Solution to world hunger
Un-parallel or contrary view (see linked
below) expressed by a body of evidence gathered by experts like Michael
Antoniou, PHD, the head of Gene Expression and Therapy at Kings College London
School of Medicine, John Fagan, PHD and Claire Robinson, a researcher for
Earth Open Source cast doubts on the foregoing claims, to wit;
- GMO technology pose different risk from non-GMO crops
- Can be toxic, allergenic, and less nutritious
- Not adequately regulated to ensure safety
- Do not increase yield potential
- Increase pesticide use
- Cause proliferation of herbicide tolerant super weed
- Compromise soil quality
- Increase disease susceptibility
- Disrupt eco-system and reduce bio-diversity
- No effect to climate change
- Not solution to world hunger
At a glance, the contrary view by the investigator obviously negates and offsets the claims and justifications
to allow the use of GMO and its by-product. The risk associated with the use of
GMO is simply not worth taking, especially in the Philippines where farming is
marginalized and agricultural capital are merely subsidized either by the
government or private rural banks. GMO seeds does not re-generate or
re-propagate such that farmers will be perpetually dependent on the seed
supplier, unlike in the traditional planting method were seeds are naturally preserved and kept for
the next planting season. Dependency on monopolized sources of seeds is a dimmer than dim situation that could lead to food crisis, since
cost of food production could increase in quadruple because the inputs to GMO
crops will be in the control of agro-chemical giants. An excerpt of Philippine
Daily Inquirer report provides a clearer view on this point, “Farmers were enticed by the introductory price of GM corn which was
almost the same as the regular hybrid corn. It cites the case of Cuartero,
Capiz, where the Roundup Ready GM corn (RR corn) used to cost only P2, 800 per
18-kilo bag which is good for a hectare. In 2008, the cost ballooned to P4, 600
for a 9-kilo bag and P9, 200 for two bags of RR corn seeds. Prices of
fertilizers and pesticides also increased. Farmers turned to traders and
money-lenders for loans with interest ranging from 20 to 40 percent during the
four months of the cropping season. They were also bound to sell to the traders
at prices lower than the market price. In the end, inputs (seeds, fertilizers,
pesticides) would eat up about 40 to 48 percent of the farmers’ total expenses
per season. And all these go to the corn traders/financiers and agrochemical
companies. Farmers who cannot pay end up losing control over their lands, or
lose them entirely to evade legal actions”.
Literature referring to
scientific studies has stunning revelations as well, animals fed with GMO’s shows
organ damage, gastro-intestinal and immune system disorder, accelerated aging
and infertility. Studies of GMO effect on humans disclosed; how GM food leave materials behind inside
the body that possibly could cause long term problems. Genes inserted into the
soy for example, can transfer into to the DNA of bacteria inside us, and that the
toxic insecticide produce by a GM corn was found in the blood of a pregnant
woman and unborn fetuses".
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