Why are genetically manipulated organisms in Asia?
According to a recent article, published by the Citizen's Biotechnology Information Center in Tokyo, genetically manipulated (GM) crops are increasingly grown in Asia.
China has grown a GM cotton variety since 1997. The cultivation of GM rice is about to be approved in China, GM trees are being planted, GM cows are being born, and there is now the possibility that GM potatoes will be cultivated.
The cultivation of GM cotton began in India in 2002 and reached 6% of the total planted area in 2004. In the Philippines, GM maize cultivation began in 2003. Still, in Japan, there are no GM crops at all, except for a few research projects at universities. Even though the Japanese government has approved certain GM crops, there is a very strong movement against GM foods in Japan. Also, Korea has no commercial GM crop cultivation.
It seems that the large multinational corporations, especially Monsanto, are targeting poor farmers in developing countries. This is highly regretable. GM crops are a major departure from traditional plant breeding methods and cannot be considered sustainable. In addition, patent legislation introduced after strong pressure from companies like Monsanto are transferring the rights to seed saving from farmers to the corporate headquarters very far away from the realities of rural communities. Why are genetically manipulated organisms in Asia? That is really a serious question that needs more attention, before any more land is farmed with such unsafe, un-wanted crops.
China has grown a GM cotton variety since 1997. The cultivation of GM rice is about to be approved in China, GM trees are being planted, GM cows are being born, and there is now the possibility that GM potatoes will be cultivated.
The cultivation of GM cotton began in India in 2002 and reached 6% of the total planted area in 2004. In the Philippines, GM maize cultivation began in 2003. Still, in Japan, there are no GM crops at all, except for a few research projects at universities. Even though the Japanese government has approved certain GM crops, there is a very strong movement against GM foods in Japan. Also, Korea has no commercial GM crop cultivation.
It seems that the large multinational corporations, especially Monsanto, are targeting poor farmers in developing countries. This is highly regretable. GM crops are a major departure from traditional plant breeding methods and cannot be considered sustainable. In addition, patent legislation introduced after strong pressure from companies like Monsanto are transferring the rights to seed saving from farmers to the corporate headquarters very far away from the realities of rural communities. Why are genetically manipulated organisms in Asia? That is really a serious question that needs more attention, before any more land is farmed with such unsafe, un-wanted crops.
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