International Managerment NGOs VIEWPOINTS

Main points• risks to the environment and human health • uncertain benefits of GM technology • proposal... Adverse effects• increased use of chemical weedkillers might damage wildlife; •

D o a n Q u o c D u n g

V U N g o c H u y

NGOs VIEWPOINTS

Main points

• risks to the environment and human health

• uncertain benefits of GM technology

• proposal

Adverse effects

• increased use of chemical weedkillers might damage wildlife;

• contamination of non-GM crops and related wild species might arise;

• no monitoring for adverse effects;

• only very limited safety testing and researches have been undertaken (in 2000, only eight published safety studies - 40 GM crops approved for sale around the world)

Bacillus Thurigiensis Corn Case

• impact of Bt corn on Monarch butterfly larvae:

• Bt (bacterium) modified into corn for insect and disease resistance

• toxic carried by wind rests in milkweed plants

• larvae consumning milkweed have higher mortality rate

STARLINK case

• StarLink: US Corn producers

• 2000 – GM corn with anti-insects genes

• containing allergen threats to human

• GEFA found StarLink corn in Kraft Taco Bell products

• result: news coverage, loss of market for US corn, depression in US corn price

• wrong match of needs (small farmers in developing countries?)

• intellectual property rights and monopoly control of seeds

• herbicide

• harmful social, environmental and health effects (soya)

new evidences about the nature the risks of GM crops and foods:

• new systems to ensure monitoring of GM crops and foods;

• improved environmental risk assessments

• new labelling laws

• food safety testing

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LISTENING