Genetic engineering tainting more crops
Genetically modified (GM) rice should be a concern for everyone, particularly Asians. US-based Monsanto corporation, the world's most active and successful GMO corporation, has genetically modified the seeds to dozens of common foods.
It’s a corporate strategy to dominate the seed and pesticide biz. Its slick advertising campaigns will cajole the public into believing their ruse is great for everyone. Monsanto is the biggest, but not the only player in the GMO intrigue. China also has lab techies working hard to enact genetic alterations.
One goal is to lessen a particular crop’s sensitivity to chemical pesticides and herbicides. It’s no coincidence that the same firms peddling GM are also peddling herbicides and other toxic chemicals. Another biz goal is developing seeds that are been genetically modified to “self-destruct”. In other words, the seeds from the current year’s crops are sterile, which means farmers must buy a new batch each year. Guess whom they must buy the seeds from? Pollen doesn’t respect boundary fences. If GM seeds pollinate the neighbours’ crops (yielding viable seed), the neighbours cannot use those seeds, or they risk being sued by Monsanto. Alternatively, pollen from GM seeds could, at other times, render neighbours’ seeds sterile, and compel them to buy Monsanto’s seeds.
Already in Mexico, for example, GM corn has played havoc on various types of indigenous corn. Grossly misshapen, bizarre and non-yielding corn plants are now cropping up in farmers’ fields. Corn comes from the Americas and is as dear to Latin Americans as rice is to Asians.
Thai authorities should do all they can to ensure GM rice strains don’t contaminate local rice. However, rice strains are not the only crops Asians need to be vigilant about. In India, for example, besides Indian farmers committing suicide because of GM-related problems (can’t afford to buy Monsanto’s seed, for example), there’s a current lawsuit regarding GM eggplant. Eggplant might not seem like a big deal, but it’s the tip of the iceberg. Not only the food supply is being affected, but also cotton, and only GM engineers and their corporate bosses know what other crops will be commandeered in the future.
Ken Albertsen
