Source: Source: The Hindu
BANGALORE, INDIA, JANUARY 18, 2002: Opposition to genetically modified (GM) food is strong in Europe and the U.S., which accounts for 70 per cent of all GM crops grown, due to concerns on effects on health and environment. This leaves the agri-biotech companies focusing on Asia to expand their markets, says Sue Mayer, Director of GeneWatch, an NGO in the U.K. Dr. Mayer, who was part of the British delegation which participated in the recent India-U.K. Science Festival, says the developments in Europe and the U.S. have a bearing on the future of GM crops in Asia. While no new GM foods were given approval for cultivation, import, or consumption in the year 2000 in Europe, India will soon see large-scale commercialization of Bt cotton (Monsanto’s transgenic cotton variety, said to have pest resistance). India is “strategically important” to Monsanto for cotton, says Dr. Mayer. “India, Indonesia, China and Thailand are among the Asian countries that are very important to GM food companies.” While GM crops are selling in the U.S., there is evidence that resistance is growing, especially in the absence of a strong monitoring system. This was demonstrated when StarLink, a GM maize variety approved only for animal feed, was found in taco shells meant for human consumption, leading to massive recalls of the contaminated food.