GM Corn. Some truths.
Editor Sir,
The GM corn seed that was destroyed by burning on Friday October 7th 2011 was imported with the proper paperwork and permissions. It had a BAHA import permit, and a letter from the Biosafety Council. The GM corn that was destroyed had been genetically modified to contain two genes, cry1Fa2 and pat, for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance respectively. Both genes were introduced into the parental maize hybrid line Hi-II by particle acceleration (biolistic) transformation.
The cry1Fa2 gene, isolated from the common soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) var.aizawai, produces the insect control protein Cry1F. There is over 30 years of commercial use of B.t._ preparations in organic farming without any report of allergenicity attributed to the B.t. insecticidal proteins, including occupational allergy associated with the manufacture of Bacillus thuringiensis preparations. We have been using BT insecticide in Belize for years. It is derived from a naturally occurring organic product.
It is common knowledge that the specificity of B.t. is directly attributable to the presence of receptors in the midgut of target insects. There are no receptors for the delta endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies on the surface of mammalian intestinal cells, therefore humans and other mammals are not susceptible to these insecticidal proteins. Hence Bt has no effect on animals or humans.
Wild public statements have been made in the press and at public meetings about GM corn. Statements such as:
“Given the many dangers that have already been proven to exist with Bt Corn, including environmental dangers”. No sound scientific basis was presented for these statements. To the contrary it had been proven many times that Bt Corn does not pose any environmental dangers, but is more environmentally friendly than conventional corn. Less insecticide use and higher yields, requiring less area to produce more is very environmentally friendly. It has never been proven that Bt corn poses a danger to the environment.
“Lower crop production” Please go to Honduras and talk to farmers who are using Bt seeds. Their yields have increased by 250% over local seed and by 166% over hybrids when using Bt corn seed.
“Loss of our local corn has Bt corn cross-pollinates it,” Any corn farmer will tell you that if he wishes to avoid cross pollination between say white and yellow corn, just plant it 200 yards apart or 2 weeks apart. Corn will only pollinate another corn variety, which is pollinating at the same time. So, a simple precaution already practiced to keep local varieties separate, will work to avoid any possibility of cross-pollination.
“Production of BT resistant pests,” Again, no scientific data is provided for this statement. Unlike insecticides to which insects develop a rapid resistance, no resistance has yet been found to the naturally occurring Bt by insects.
“Increase levels of toxins in mothers’ breast milk.”. A publication by Aziz Aris and Samuel Leblanc in the journal Reproductive Toxicology (Maternal and fetal exposure to pesticides associated to Genetically Modified Foods in Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada) claimed that they had detected traces of the insecticidal protein Cry1Ab in the blood of Canadian women. The authors failed to consider that the presence of this protein could be from organic food which had been heavily sprayed with BT. In addition, to obtain the levels claimed, the women would have had to consume daily 13 lbs. of corn for extended periods to reach the levels claimed. Their findings were disregarded by the professional scientists because of faulty test procedures.
We are facing a dilemma in Belize. Do we believe the malcontents who quote “junk” science and mis-inform, or do we take the responsible approach to the use of this new technology, which has been widely tested in the more developed nations?
Wilmot Simmons
Corn Seed Specialist
Prosser Fertilizer & Agrotec Co. Ltd.