There is a lot of talk today about climate change and the effect of climate change on agricultural production in the world. The positive or the negative impact that the climate change will have is locality specific. This takes us back to the slogan “Think Globally Act Locally” which has great relevance today. It is therefore imperative that we prepare ourselves to the best of our ability to tackle the changes as it comes about. There are several factors which affect crop production. Some of these factors are natural which cannot be manipulated while there are other man-made factors which greatly influences crop productivity. Green Revolution was brought about by motivating farmers to grow hybrid cereal crops. We all know the impact that this green revolution has had in the entire world by doubling crop production especially in wheat crop. There are numerous researches being carried out in the world especially in the field of agriculture. The need to maximise production in all agricultural crops is one of the main driving force in most of the researches being carried out. Science and Technology is fast changing and the need to adopt new technologies is also a challenge. While there is need to be cautious in adopting new technologies by conducting multi-locational trials and assessing the outcome, there is also the danger of shunning new technologies simply basing on reports which may be negative or inconclusive. Some of the man-made factors which influences an increase in crop production coupled with enhancement in quality is use of bioregulators and genetically modified food or organisms.
What are genetically modified food ?
Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding (plant breeding and animal breeding), and somaclonal variation.
Genetic modification involves the INSERT IGNOREion or deletion of genes. In the process of cisgenesis, genes are artificially transferred between organisms that could be conventionally bred. In the process of transgenesis, genes from a different species are INSERT IGNOREed, which is a form of horizontal gene transfer. In nature this can occur when exogenous DNA penetrates the cell membrane of a plant for any reason. To do this artificially may require attaching genes to a virus or just physically INSERT IGNOREing the extra DNA into the nucleus of the intended host with a very small syringe, or with very small particles fired from a gene gun. However, other methods exploit natural forms of gene transfer, such as the ability of Agrobacterium to transfer genetic material to plants, and the ability of lentiviruses to transfer genes to animal cells.
Genetic modifications of plant thus occurs in nature itself over time to some extent. In the present context there is need for greater research in genetically modified food or organisms as this seems to be one of the solutions to overcome the various effects of climate change. There are crops being developed for cold tolerance and drought resistance as well. These crops would definitely overcome the many abnormal changes in the climatic conditions that we face today. There are various different views expressed about genetically modified organisms some often contradicting the other. Some aspects of these views are as follows:
• Herbicide tolerance: Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one very powerful herbicide could help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. Monsanto has created a strain of soybean genetically modified to be not affected by their herbicide product Roundup. A farmer grows these soybeans which then only require one application of weed-killer instead of multiple applications, reducing production cost and limiting the dangers of agricultural waste run-off. However, there is concern that crop plants engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds will cross-breed, resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance genes from the crops into the weeds. These "superweeds" would then be herbicide tolerant as well.
• Nutrition: Malnutrition is common in third world countries where impoverished peoples rely on a single crop such as rice for the main staple of their diet. However, rice does not contain adequate amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. For example, blindness due to vitamin A deficiency is a common problem in third world countries. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute for Plant Sciences have created a strain of "golden" rice containing an unusually high content of beta-carotene (vitamin A). Plans were underway to develop a golden rice that also has increased iron content. However, the grant that funded the creation of these two rice strains was not renewed, perhaps because of the vigorous anti-GM food protesting in Europe, and so this nutritionally-enhanced rice may not come to market at all.
• Use of pesticides: With the growing awareness of harm caused to human health by consumption of crops applied with pesticides coupled with high cost of crop production with the use of such pesticides, growing GM foods such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to market. The use of hybrid cotton since the 80’s had brought self sufficiency in production of cotton in India by 1990. However, monoculture of cotton took its toll by increasing its pest population thus causing a lot of misery to cotton farmers. The introduction of Bt cotton to Indian farmers has revolutionised cotton production as reported in the Hindu Survey of Indian Agriculture 2010. The area under Bt cotton in India reached 7.6 million ha in 2008-09 constituting nearly 81 per cent of the total cotton area and has reached a production of 4.9 million tonnes. Thus, making India the second largest producer and exporter of cotton in the world, largely due to planting of Bt cotton. This has also brought about 40% reduction in pesticide usage and yield advantages of 30 – 40%.
This goes on to show that our farmers are ready to accept new technologies when given the chance. My attention has been drawn to an article entitled “Climate change and agriculture” by Dr. Vandana Shiva (Eastern Mirror, March 3, 2011) which states that “... small biodiverse organic farms produce more food and provide higher incomes to farmers” I do agree that this statement was true ages ago when our farmers and their family could sustain throughout the year from the produce of their jhumland where they grew biodiverese crops without any application of fertilizers or pesticides. However, in the present context, urging farmers to cultivate small biodiverse organic farms to feed the ever growing population is illogical. It would be far better to educate farmers on the abuse of chemicals and create awareness for attitudinal change to overcome the vagaries of climate change. Paul Collier, an Economist in Oxford University states that, “Genetic modification is analogous to nuclear power: nobody loves it, but climate change has made its adoption imperative, declining genetic modification makes a complicated issue more complex. Genetic modification offers both faster crop adaptation and a biological, rather than chemical, approach to yield increases." It is apt to quote Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Professor of Food, Nutrition and Public Policy at Cornell University “While new technology must be tested before it is commercially released, we should be mindful of the risks of not releasing it at all...... misguided anti-science ideology and failure by governments to prioritize agricultural and rural development in developing countries brought us the food crisis.” He clearly states the challenge we face is not the challenge of whether we have enough resources to produce, but whether we will change our behaviour or attitude to something new. This also calls for change in the attitude of the people; farmers who till the land; researchers and technocrats who develop technology which should be location specific; and policy makers to see that these technologies are rightly and effectively implemented.
Dr. Pauline Alila is Asst. Professor, Department of Horticulture, SASRD, Nagaland University, Medziphema
What are genetically modified food ?
Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding (plant breeding and animal breeding), and somaclonal variation.
Genetic modification involves the INSERT IGNOREion or deletion of genes. In the process of cisgenesis, genes are artificially transferred between organisms that could be conventionally bred. In the process of transgenesis, genes from a different species are INSERT IGNOREed, which is a form of horizontal gene transfer. In nature this can occur when exogenous DNA penetrates the cell membrane of a plant for any reason. To do this artificially may require attaching genes to a virus or just physically INSERT IGNOREing the extra DNA into the nucleus of the intended host with a very small syringe, or with very small particles fired from a gene gun. However, other methods exploit natural forms of gene transfer, such as the ability of Agrobacterium to transfer genetic material to plants, and the ability of lentiviruses to transfer genes to animal cells.
Genetic modifications of plant thus occurs in nature itself over time to some extent. In the present context there is need for greater research in genetically modified food or organisms as this seems to be one of the solutions to overcome the various effects of climate change. There are crops being developed for cold tolerance and drought resistance as well. These crops would definitely overcome the many abnormal changes in the climatic conditions that we face today. There are various different views expressed about genetically modified organisms some often contradicting the other. Some aspects of these views are as follows:
• Herbicide tolerance: Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one very powerful herbicide could help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. Monsanto has created a strain of soybean genetically modified to be not affected by their herbicide product Roundup. A farmer grows these soybeans which then only require one application of weed-killer instead of multiple applications, reducing production cost and limiting the dangers of agricultural waste run-off. However, there is concern that crop plants engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds will cross-breed, resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance genes from the crops into the weeds. These "superweeds" would then be herbicide tolerant as well.
• Nutrition: Malnutrition is common in third world countries where impoverished peoples rely on a single crop such as rice for the main staple of their diet. However, rice does not contain adequate amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. For example, blindness due to vitamin A deficiency is a common problem in third world countries. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute for Plant Sciences have created a strain of "golden" rice containing an unusually high content of beta-carotene (vitamin A). Plans were underway to develop a golden rice that also has increased iron content. However, the grant that funded the creation of these two rice strains was not renewed, perhaps because of the vigorous anti-GM food protesting in Europe, and so this nutritionally-enhanced rice may not come to market at all.
• Use of pesticides: With the growing awareness of harm caused to human health by consumption of crops applied with pesticides coupled with high cost of crop production with the use of such pesticides, growing GM foods such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to market. The use of hybrid cotton since the 80’s had brought self sufficiency in production of cotton in India by 1990. However, monoculture of cotton took its toll by increasing its pest population thus causing a lot of misery to cotton farmers. The introduction of Bt cotton to Indian farmers has revolutionised cotton production as reported in the Hindu Survey of Indian Agriculture 2010. The area under Bt cotton in India reached 7.6 million ha in 2008-09 constituting nearly 81 per cent of the total cotton area and has reached a production of 4.9 million tonnes. Thus, making India the second largest producer and exporter of cotton in the world, largely due to planting of Bt cotton. This has also brought about 40% reduction in pesticide usage and yield advantages of 30 – 40%.
This goes on to show that our farmers are ready to accept new technologies when given the chance. My attention has been drawn to an article entitled “Climate change and agriculture” by Dr. Vandana Shiva (Eastern Mirror, March 3, 2011) which states that “... small biodiverse organic farms produce more food and provide higher incomes to farmers” I do agree that this statement was true ages ago when our farmers and their family could sustain throughout the year from the produce of their jhumland where they grew biodiverese crops without any application of fertilizers or pesticides. However, in the present context, urging farmers to cultivate small biodiverse organic farms to feed the ever growing population is illogical. It would be far better to educate farmers on the abuse of chemicals and create awareness for attitudinal change to overcome the vagaries of climate change. Paul Collier, an Economist in Oxford University states that, “Genetic modification is analogous to nuclear power: nobody loves it, but climate change has made its adoption imperative, declining genetic modification makes a complicated issue more complex. Genetic modification offers both faster crop adaptation and a biological, rather than chemical, approach to yield increases." It is apt to quote Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Professor of Food, Nutrition and Public Policy at Cornell University “While new technology must be tested before it is commercially released, we should be mindful of the risks of not releasing it at all...... misguided anti-science ideology and failure by governments to prioritize agricultural and rural development in developing countries brought us the food crisis.” He clearly states the challenge we face is not the challenge of whether we have enough resources to produce, but whether we will change our behaviour or attitude to something new. This also calls for change in the attitude of the people; farmers who till the land; researchers and technocrats who develop technology which should be location specific; and policy makers to see that these technologies are rightly and effectively implemented.
Dr. Pauline Alila is Asst. Professor, Department of Horticulture, SASRD, Nagaland University, Medziphema
