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Sunday, September 14, 2003
Greenpeace, farmers oppose genetically engineered corn
By Miko Santos
GREENPEACE-Philippines urged the Arroyo government to pass a law that will stop the entry of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the country, as it condemned multinational company Monsanto for introducing the Yieldgard Bt corn variety to farmers.
Environmental activists unveiled a protest message against biotechnology research firm Monsanto Philippines Inc., a US-based vendor of genetically engineered agricultural products, as they rappelled from the top floor of a building housing the company's Philippine headquarters on Friday.
The huge yellow banner unfurled by three activists of the environmental group
Greenpeace as they rappelled down to the seventh floor of a 13-story building in the Alabang suburb of Muntinlupa City read "Monsanto + WTO = Environmental Destruction."
Greenpeace condemned the World Trade Organization (WTO)-of which the Philippines is a member-for promoting free trade to benefit private corporations worldwide. The WTO is currently holding its Ministerial Conference in Cancun, Mexico to discuss agriculture and trade issues.
Greenpeace pointed out the Philippines is already a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, together with 102 countries, which restricts the free entry of GMOs to the country. The protocol says any government must be informed before any importation of GMO into the country is done.
The environmental watchdog also claims that genetically modified plants like the Bt corn pose a threat to the environment, biological diversity and human health.
Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner Beau Baconguis claimed Monsanto was unleashing environmental havoc with its Bt Corn, the first genetically engineered crop commercially released in the Philippines.
They claimed the genetically engineered corn would contaminate non-Bt corn crops and could have adverse effects on humans who consume it. They sought a moratorium on its commercialization while additional testing was done.
Bt Corn is being distributed in the country under the name "Yieldgard," Baconguis said.
Monsanto markets genetically modified organisms or GMOs, plants or animals whose DNA have been altered in a laboratory.
Monsanto's Bt corn variety MON 810 has the permits to be sold both as feed and food but yellow corn is basically used for feed rather than food in the country.
Monsanto holds the worldwide patent to Yieldgard Bt corn, the first genetically modified crop commercially released in the Philippines.
The Philippines imports around one million metric tons of corn and corn substitutes annually as the feed processing industry requires some 5.5-million MT of corn every year. Local farms can produce only about one to two million metric tons of corn yearly.
To cover the production gap, the Philippine government approved the commercialization-planting and sale-of Bt corn after three years of greenhouse and field tests.
Last week, farmers and environmental groups led by the Philippine Greens and farmer organization Pakisama went on a hunger strike for 30 days in front of the main office of the Department of Agriculture and called for a moratorium on the propagation of Bt corn.
The commercial distribution of Bt corn seeds in the country was approved last December despite opposition from various groups.
Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Sr., however, stood firm on his position to commercialize the new corn variety.
(September 14, 2003 issue)
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