TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2004
UN food agency comes out in favor of biotech crops
AP
ROME: A United Nations food agency is coming out in favor of biotech crops, saying genetically modified organisms have already helped small farmers financially, have had some environmental benefits and no ill effects on health.
In a major report being released on Monday, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says the main problem with agricultural biotechnology to date is that it hasn't spread fast enough to the world's poor farmers and has focused on crops that are mostly of use to big commercial interests.
The report "Agricultural Biotechnology: Meeting the Needs of the Poor?" is likely to fuel the debate about genetically modified, or transgenic crops, at a time when the technology continues to face public opposition in some European and African countries.
Proponents of GM foods say plants that can resist insects and be fortified with extra vitamins are a boon to farmers and consumers. Opponents say the crops pose unknown health and environmental risks and say the ones who benefit most are the multinational corporations who develop and sell GM seeds.
The United Nation's policy to date had been that it recognized the potential of transgenic crops to help fight world hunger but that case-by-case studies were needed to assess the risks. While that position hasn't changed, the report gives an altogether positive vote to GM technology.
The UN said transgenic crops currently on the market are safe to eat and have posed no negative health effects. It said scientists differ on the environmental impact, noting that genes from GM crops can be transferred to wild species.
However, it said scientists differ on whether that in itself is a bad thing and said what's needed most is more research to asses the environmental consequences of this so-called "gene flow."
The report also pointed out some environmental and health benefits from using transgenic crops. It said reduction in pesticides and toxic herbicides that come with transgenic crops has had "demonstrable health benefits" for farm workers in China.
In addition, it said some GM crops, especially insect-resistant cotton, "are yielding significant economic gains to small farmers."
It noted that while private companies have been largely responsible for selling transgenic seeds, "it is the producers and consumers who are reaping the largest share of the economic benefits of transgenic crops."
"This suggests that the monopoly position engendered by intellectual property protection does not automatically lead to excessive industry profits," it said.
However, FAO said the private sector was focusing too much on technology for crops that benefit big commercial interests, such as maize, soybean, canola and cotton.
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