Genetic manipulation and transgenic food
Title: Genetic manipulation and transgenic food
Author: Albert de Germinal, Consumption of Eco-Biological
Products Cooperative
Summary: Genetic manipulation and the apparition of transgenic
foods has consequences on different aspects: health, environment,
economy, social and international relations, etc. The author
proposes the need of elaborating a study of the interests that drive
the chemical and pharmaceutical industry to develop these new
techniques and products, as well of the risks and consequences for
the life of the planet and the effects of these policies in the
agrarian economies of the countries of the so-called Third World. On
the other hand, the author proposes a series of actions to be carried
out that to combat these policies.
The development of genetic engineering, and with it the apparition
of the first transgenic food products, makes an analysis by the
consumers of organized eco-biological products of their position on
this issue necessary.
Given the complexity, difficulty and innumerable
interrelationships of genetic manipulation, I consider convenient the
establishment of two types of agreements:
a) A preliminary assessment and resolution on the most
significant and relevant aspects.
b) A subsequent follow-up and deeper and more detailed study with
the preparation of a Dossier and its periodic actualization and the
presentation of proposals and actions when it is thought appropriate.
1. It is about a technology and products that throughout their
complete process, cause huge and serious repercussions that affect a
wide thematic spectrum: health, environment, economy, social and
international relations, etc.
It is necessary to emphasize that the main interest of its
promoters and defenders is not bettering or solving of serious health
and nutrition problems from which humanity suffers, but instead their
goal is directed to the control of the whole food chain and to obtain
billions in profit. The biotechnological investigation is
controlled by a reduced number of multinational corporations of the
agro-chemical sector in constant process of integration and
concentration.
2. Genetic engineering is based on a reductionist scientific
paradigm that presupposes that each specific character of an
organism is codified in one or a few specific and stable genes, in
such a way that the transfer of these genes has as a result the
transfer of a concrete character. Nevertheless, given the enormous
complexity of the genetic code , even in very simple organisms such
as bacteria, it is not possible to predict the consequences of the
introduction of new genes in any organism or plant. This is because:
a) the transferred gene can act in a different form when it
functions inside another organism, b) the original genetic code of
the organism is altered, c) the new combination of the genes of the
organism and the transferred gene will have unpredictable effects,
and d) there is no way to know a priori the global and long-term
effects of the genetically manipulated products on health.
Artificial transfer of genes from one species to another results
highly dangerous. Biotechnological corporations erroneously argue
that their manipulations are similar to natural genetic changes or to
traditional reproduction techniques, but this is false, because the
cross between different species does not occur in Nature, and
henceforth real disasters can be created, new toxins, illnesses and
weaknesses. In this dangerous experiment and the public is the
guinea pig.
3. Food manipulated through genetic engineering can become a
dangerous and even toxic substance for the metabolism. Even if the
gene itself is not dangerous or toxic it could alter complex
biochemical systems and create new bioactive compounds or change the
concentrations of those which are normally present. Properties of
proteins can also change in a new chemical environment, given that
they can yield and adhere to new forms.
Genetically manipulated products have more risks than traditional
foods. Genetic engineering processes can introduce new allergens in
foods that previously were naturally safe. There exists a case of a
manipulated bacteria used to produced large quantities of a dietary
supplement, triptophane, that caused 27 deaths and 1.500 disabilities
in the United States (in 1992). There are also indications that the
genetically manipulated soy seed (like the kind that has come to
Spain) can cause serious allergic reactions.
On the other hand, an increase in the pollution of food and
drinking water will result, as more than 60% of genetic investigation
is destined to the development of plants that are resistant to
herbicides and pesticides with the consequent increase in the
concentration of inorganic chemical agents. 4. The potential
ecological risks of the application of genetic engineering to
agriculture include the possibility that some transgenic crops can
become harmful weeds, while others could become a bridge through
which new genes are transmitted to wild plants, which could also
become harmful weeds. These new harmful weeds could negatively
affect agricultural farming, as well as natural ecosystems. In a
similar way, fish, molluscs, and insects that are manipulated by
genetic engineering could become plagues under certain conditions.
It could even happen that some would reproduce to the point of
becoming dominant, displacing others and therefore reducing the
diversity of the reproductive stock.
The fact that genetic engineering will accelerate the rhythm of
loss of global biodiversity of agricultural crops and plants is
especially alarming. Transgenic crops constitute a threat to wild
plants and rural varieties (traditional varieties of crops) that
constitute a principal source of the genetic diversity of the crops.
Third World countries are faced with larger environmental risks
than the Western countries because, in contrast, they harbor a great
quantity of natural relatives of many crops, which makes easier the
generation of mutant wild species. On the other hand, almost all
global centers of origin and diversification of crops are found in
Third World countries, and in consequence, the erosion of vegetal
biodiversity and the germoplasm of plants (so crucial for a
sustainable agriculture) in these countries, increases the risk of a
lack of food at global level in the future.
Another of the possible environmental problems derives from the
possible chemical pollution of the superficial and subterranean
waters by microorganisms or plants with metabolically altered
processes. It can be impossible to recuperate and even more
difficult to control, the genetically manipulated organisms that are
harmful, especially those agents that controlled or do not enter in
contact with the atmosphere.
5. Genetic manipulation has open the door to patents on the life
of genetic material derived from human beings, animals and plants,
widening the legislation of patents to the genetic structure of
living beings. This means reducing life itself to mere merchandise
with the ensuing negative consequences, both ethical and practical,
for humanity, living beings in general and the ecological equilibrium
of the planet.
The deed itself can be considered as a veritable act of
intellectual piracy of biotechnological corporations, because through
the World Organization for Intellectual Property, they try to impose
the royalties of their patents (seeds, plants and livestock) to the
agricultural world. Here a special mentioning of the local farmers
of the Third World is necessary as they have developed and bettered
crops in a natural way for centuries and have freely shared their
knowledge.
This entails that a multitude of small farmers will be forced to
leave their land, with the consequent dismantling of farmer
economies and rural communities all over the world. In this way,
large companies of independent seeds will be absorbed by the
industrial giants (chemical, pharmaceutical, etc.) that have been
taking hegemonic positions to control the world market of seeds.
In contrast to the legal regime that before protected the right of
those who obtained improved varieties and that guaranteed free access
to the necessary germoplasm for the development of new varieties, the
patents of living material now give their holders monopolistic
rights. As a result, the development of new varieties through
genetic manipulation will rest in hands of a small handful of
companies that will impose "their" products on us, without the
independent improvers of varieties and race having access to
fundamental genetic resources.
6. The development of genetic engineering is provoking a strong
process of economic and business concentration at a planetary scale
of the companies dedicated to seeds, food production, chemical and
pharmaceutical industry and new technologies, all with a view toward
controlling the whole food chain. This means that our health and our
nutrition will become exclusively dependent on these large monopolies
whose only interest lies in obtaining large profits. This model of
concentration brings with it fatal consequences for the countries of
the Third World because the safe and stable genetic resources of
varieties of plants and animals of these countries, which represent
the accumulated knowledge from the experience of generations of
farmers and indigenous communities throughout the centuries, are
presently acquired as raw material for the biotechnological industry.
In fact, in the next decades, many crops that today are produced
in natural conditions will be produced in laboratories by means of
tissue cultures and other biotechnology, and later on in factories
and/or by transgenetic cultures adapted to new surroundings and
cultivated in the fields of mainly industrialized countries. Today
research is being done to modify or replace vanilla, sugar, cacao,
coffee, tobacco, coconut, palm oil, and other crops. This would have
as a result disastrous social consequences with an incalculable loss
of employment in countries that produce these crops.
Genetic engineering is, on the other hand, an economically and
financially expensive technology, that demands a profitability as
fast as possible that attracts (due to multinational pressures) great
public financial resources for "spectacular" biotechnological
projects that without a doubt should be employed in defense of
biodiversity, indigenous production and biological agriculture.
7. In the field of ecological and agricultural consumption, three
urgent issue have been put forth:
-How to control and defend biological seed before genetic handling
and the control of seed banks by multinationals?
-The requirement that the actual normative on agricultural
production prohibit the employment of seeds, enzymes and additives
handled genetically.
-The verbal and written commitment by producers and consumers of
biological products to reject any genetically handled product.
8. Before this situation the organizations of consumers of
ecological and biological products must consider the following
proposals:
a) The immediate paralysis of production and commercialization of
all genetically manipulated products.
b) An absolute negative to the patents on all types of living
beings and the processes and techniques of genetic handling.
c) The obligation that all fresh or transformed product,
including enzymes and additives that contain any ingredient that is
genetically manipulated, be clearly identified in the label.
d) The participation of organizations of consumers, ecologists
and farmers in the bodies dedicated to the authorization, following
and control of food products genetically handled.
e) That all human and financial means that are presently invested
in the field of genetic handling be destined to the research and
defense of biodiversity, respect and the maintenance of traditional
crops, the protection of original seeds and indigenous produce and
the development of ecological agriculture.
Barcelona, April 25, 1997
Albert (de Germinal)
Germinal is a cooperative of consumers of eco-biological products
and a socio-ecological and organization in solidarity.
Organization and objectives:
As a cooperative there are no clients but members, and therefore
all property is collective. It is a non-profit organization as all
benefits are reverted to the associated persons. The cooperative has
a democratic base, which means that all associated people have voice
and vote within the organization, and more importantly, they
participate as actively as is possible for them.
As a consumer cooperative, the products are the most
eco-biological possible, considering the following parameters:
-that they do no contain additives that are harmful to our health
-that they come from biological crops
-that their cycle or fabrication process (packaging, transport) is
the less polluting possible
-that they come from a close geographic area
The products are directly acquired for producers that offer
guarantees of quality and reliability. Acting without intermediaries
logically involves the possibility of acquiring products at a better
price.
As a socio-ecological organization our will is to have an impact
on daily life, and, at the same time, give the necessary steps that
will take us toward a cleaner and more sustainable world.
In solidarity, the cooperative is in contact with associations
that also promote consumption in solidarity, in other words, of
products coming from Third World countries.
In this way the cooperative has set out to cooperate as much as
possible with any kind of campaign or action that favors ethnic
groups or countries in need.
Germinal is a step of a long path. A path that will take us to
improve our relationship with our environment. A path that goes from
the present individualistic model toward a global model in
solidarity.
Germinal
c/Rosendo Arus, 47
08014 Barcelona
Tel. 421 15 89