Letters: GM crops - myths and facts

This refers to Shreekant Sambrani’s article “Gene revolution — the antecedents” (January 22).

Myth I: Genetically modified (GM) crops increase the use of chemicals;

Fact: Pest-resistant crops need less insecticide.

Myth II: Genetic modification benefit only large corporations;

Fact: Billions of dollars of benefits accrue to farmers owing to fewer inputs required.

Myth III: Terminator technology robs farmers of their right to save seed;

Fact: Hybrids did this long ago, and that terminator never happened.

Myth IV: No one wanted GM crops;

Fact: Bt cotton was pirated into India, and farmers are eager to use GM crops.

Myth V: Genetic modification is dangerous; Fact: It’s safer and more precise than conventional breeding. For instance, mutagenesis. It just moves a couple of genes, whereas conventional breeding mucks about with the entire genome in a trial and error way.

 

Myth VI: Genetic modification mixes genes between unrelated species;

Fact: Viruses do that all the time, as do plants and insects, and even us; it’s called gene flow.

Fortunately, the Green Revolution then replaced organic with high-yield farming, and converted India from a starvation area to a food exporter.

K D Singh New Delhi

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