Yesterday FOs Chihuhua state expressed their dissatisfaction with the project to plant transgenic corn around their fields. Basically the concern is the risk of gene contamination with GM varieties landraces, which that involve genetic erosion of native varieties and thereby the economic dependence on the acquisition of commercial varieties. Despite the controversy, and the risks that have been documented that there are derived from GM crops, the government through SAGARPA insists on the introduction of seed of these varieties.
Undoubtedly social conflicts, economic and environmental, that these policies will bring will suffer and observe in the short and medium term. Under the same theme, was published today in the Day, reflects a note that based on experience with GM crops in Argentina about the risks and implications that should not be ignored, but as usual have not echoed in the decision-makers.
Below you will read this note:
Note day: 21-Oct-2009 by Alejandro Nadal
Mexican Corn and Johnsongrass: bitter lesson
A specter is haunting the fields of the Chaco, in northern Argentina. After months of investigation and heated disputes, has been confirmed the existence of a biotype of Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) resistant to the herbicide glyphosate in the province of Salta. It is the first case of a variety of Johnsongrass resistant to glyphosate herbicide since this came into use in the world three decades ago. The spread of this weed harvesters through circulating everywhere after each growing season is not a good omen.
A specter is haunting the fields of the Chaco, in northern Argentina. After months of investigation and heated disputes, has been confirmed the existence of a biotype of Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) resistant to the herbicide glyphosate in the province of Salta. It is the first case of a variety of Johnsongrass resistant to glyphosate herbicide since this came into use in the world three decades ago. The spread of this weed harvesters through circulating everywhere after each growing season is not a good omen.
The presence of Johnsongrass resistant to glyphosate (SARS) has been recognized by the lead agency to monitor weeds worldwide ( http://www.weedscience.org/ ). This finding is a nightmare come true for producers of GM soya. It is also a lesson for SAGARPA, just illegally authorized the first experimental plantings of transgenic maize in Mexico. It is the first step on the road to allow the commercial planting and strengthen Mexican environmental release of genetically modified corn, with serious risks for corn germplasm in our country, a center of origin of this crop of global importance. We
piecemeal. The Johnson grass, also known as Johnson grass, is one of 10 major weeds affecting agriculture in temperate climates. It is a perennial weed, endowed with great capacity for survival and to control mechanically. The irony is that many countries, including Argentina, was introduced as a forage, precisely because of its adaptability and high productivity. In a few years was becoming a pest whose battle with chemicals has had high costs for farmers and biodiversity.
To combat this "perfect weed" has been using glyphosate herbicide that kills broad spectrum of higher plants the ability to synthesize three essential amino acids. Is non-selective herbicide sold in the world and its expansion accelerated with GM crops as Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans, genetically modified to increase their resistance to glyphosate.
Currently, genetically modified soybeans is planted on 18 million hectares in Argentina. This culture has transformed the rural landscape of the pampas, upsetting the social relationships that allow small-scale agriculture and opening the door to large-scale agribusiness. Soybean exports are the mainstay of fiscal policy: 18 percent of total tax revenue from sales tax outside soy. But the collapse of this bubble of soy is a matter of time. The emergence of SARS is only a warning.
The transgenic soybeans using a direct seeding technology package (or minimum tillage), which is left to stubble ground cover to protect rain and wind. This reduces the risk of erosion, but must be accompanied by an increase in herbicide use. This culture has been associated with spectacular growth in usage of these materials: in just 10 years of glyphosate consumption rose from 15 to 200 million liters. The result at the end of the road was to be expected, sooner or later had to appear resistant species strategies designed and implemented by the commercial agriculture. With the spread of the technology package of genetically modified soybeans that resistance appear more quickly, because the process of co-evolution (which basically is what governs this phenomenon) would be accelerating.
Is what will happen to GM maize seed which is authorizing the SAGARPA. The emergence of insects resistant to the toxin produced by transgenic Bt crops is a matter of time. Still not detect large outbreaks of resistant populations to Bt toxin, but partly that's because the strategy is to let non-transgenic plants shelters in the plots. In United States practice has been accompanied by the complementary use of insecticides. But the warning of ecologists and agronomists remains: these strategies will only delay the process of emergence of insects resistant to Bt, do not stop. The planting of transgenic maize in Mexico will increase the probability of emerging populations of insects resistant to Bt in less time. That is not the only problem, but the example of SARS is a sign that we should not ignore.
The technological trajectory of GM crops is a dead end. Of course, for companies and their accomplices in government, this is a good tool to own the field and transform it into the space of profitability. For the SAGARPA and the government, nothing should stand between the companies and the profitability, even weak biosafety legislation that was designed to serve the interests of those same companies.
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