Genetically modified organism | Environmental Concerns

 Muhammad Murad, University of Agriculture Faisalabad

Genetically modified organism  |

Environmental Concerns  

 The sun and the moon Follow courses (exactly) computed; And the herbs and the trees- Both (alike) bow in adoration. And the Firmanent has He Raised high, and He has set up The Balance (of justice), In order that ye may Not transgress (due) balance. Quran (55:5-9)

Introduction

 When a crop has been genetically modified and is grown on a large scale in an open environment, should we be concerned? What possible adverse effects could such crops pose to that environment? Can we know the totality of the effects that will occur? What can be done if something goes wrong?
          Let us start by taking a few moments to appreciate the diverse life forms and natural elements that make up a typical farming environment - the insects, birds, small animals, plants and weeds. The soil, its nutrients and inhabitants. The wind, the sunlight and the rain. Bigger animals. The varying temperatures, pressures and humidity.
          The environment is truly incredible. And no human being can compute the total interactions that occur between life forms, and the changing elements that influence them. No human being can control all the forces that are out there. In acknowledging our limited ability and understanding, our hearts may open up to acknowledge and understand the existence of something that is much more intelligent and capable than we are.
          The totality of interactions in the environment is immense and changing constantly. It is surely naïve of any human to believe that they can change the pattern of creation and know the overall effects of that change. For many, it is the unknown that is the scariest part of manipulating life.

         We may be able to apply science, 'whom' many look up to as God Himself, in order to measure a limited number of environmental effects of genetically modifying crops. For example, we can try to look at changes in biodiversity; is there a reduction in the number of ladybirds or other insects? What happens to the number of birds? We can also look for any differences in yield.

          But, any experiment is done for only a limited period of time. How long should that period be? Would the results be valid for the same crop grown in slightly different conditions, in a slightly more humid climate, for instance? And at what point should we say that we now know enough to decide what we should do?

         It is clear that scientific evaluations, in their nature to look at bits will not give us the full picture. The whole, after all, is not the sum of its parts. However scientific knowledge does, and always will have its use. Scientific experiments can give us certain facts. Our ability to understand the implications from those facts is dependent to a large extent, on our awareness. Within that awareness is the appreciation of the possibilities that exist in what we do not know. Science will never tell us every fact necessary to make any decision. There will always be an area of unknown. Our own awareness is the place where science stops, and wisdom can begin. It is the wisdom that embraces the science and colours it with truth - that is what makes science worthwhile.

Some 'Bits' Of Information

Let us discuss some of the facts that concern many people on the potential effects of GM crops on the environment.

1) Two interesting experiments, which demonstrate how little we know about the long-term environmental implications of growing GM crops, will be briefly discussed.

         In one experiment, GM potato was fed to aphids. The aphids were then fed to ladybirds. Consequently, the ladybirds had a reduced lifespan. In fact their lifespan was reduced by up to a half and their fertility was also adversely affected.

In the second experiment, monarch caterpillars were fed on leaves dusted with GM corn pollen. The density of the pollen was set to visually match that in a field. Within four days, almost half of the caterpillars died, and of those that did not, many grew to only half their normal size. There were no deaths amongst monarch caterpillars that ate leaves dusted with normal corn pollen, or no pollen at all. Already thousands of acres of farmland in the USA are used to grow this type of GM corn.

         The results of the above experiments are extremely worrying. The results could not have been predicted in advance, and commonsense would tell us that other environmentally hazardous effects are also bound to be happening. Also, in an open environment with so many interactions, how can one know the knock on effect of each immediate effect, and then the effects following even that?

         The first experiment illustrates the potential harm GM foods could produce, indirectly, at a later stage in the food chain. Any species could suffer in this way, including our own. This is because much animal feed is GM, and this could contaminate all meat, dairy products and eggs from animals fed on a GM diet.

         The second experiment suggests significant differences between the GM corn pollen and non-GM corn pollen. Also, nobody yet knows what effect GM pollen might be having on the incidence of allergies. The release of GM crops is clearly a careless experiment on our health and that of the environment.

2) Herbicide resistant crops. Many GM crops have been engineered to be more resistant to chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. For instance Monsanto's' Roundup Ready soya, canola and corn is engineered to be more resistant to Roundup, which is a broad spectrum, highly toxic herbicide. This allows the farmer to spray more herbicide onto the field without destroying the crop itself. This is meant to give better weed control. However, weeds are an important source of food for many insects. By killing all weeds, this will therefore result in a reduced population of insects. This will also have a knock on effect on the population of birds, which feed on the insects. Roundup is also toxic to beneficial fungi in the soil, which play an important role in the recycling of nutrients.

         Biotechnology companies often claim that genetic engineering will help reduce chemical use in agriculture; for instance, they say that herbicide resistant crops will require fewer episodes of spraying. It is interesting to note that many GM food companies were mostly chemical companies themselves, but are now focusing more heavily on sales of GM produce. Many environmental scientists would also question their claims that GM crops will reduce chemical use. In fact, biotechnology companies have successfully lobbied for approval of higher levels of chemical residues in our food. If they genuinely wanted food to be grown with fewer chemicals, then they would be encouraging more natural farming methods, such as organic. However, since this is not in their financial interest, it is unlikely that they will ever do so.

3) Pesticide producing crops. Another group of GM crops, are those engineered to produce their own pesticide. Bt corn is one example of this, and was mentioned in one of the experiments described earlier. Although, the artificial production of pesticide within the plant 'should' prevent any need for external applications of pesticides, there are other factors to be considered. Since the pesticide-producing gene has been engineered into the plant, the pesticide will now be produced constantly in every cell of the plant (as well as in the pollen). This will increase the likelihood that insects will become resistant to the pesticide, due to prolonged contact to it. In fact, there are reports that farmers are now spraying pesticide even on these GM crops, as a result of increased insect resistance to the chemical. Another issue that comes up here is this: What is the effect of eating a 'food', which is producing an active pesticide in every one of its cells throughout its lifetime?

4) Cross-pollination and superweeds. 

    Pollen from GM crops can travel many kilometers to cross-pollinate with related species and contaminate honey. They have the power to manipulate the genes in our foods and the arrogance to do it, but they cannot control the wind or the bees. They have no way of controlling the spread of GM pollution. The self-perpetuating nature of GM organisms is extremely worrying, and already plants from non-GM sites have been fertilized by GM pollen. Any adverse environmental effects are therefore already spreading, and the planet is being treated like an open laboratory containing an uncontrollable experiment.

    

 Related to the above is the problem whereby 'superweeds' can be produced as a result of cross-pollination. For instance, herbicide resistant GM crops can cross-pollinate with a wild relative. This means that the wild relative will now also have that herbicide resistant gene. Consequently, it would become a much more aggressive weed, and would require the spraying of even greater amounts of toxic herbicide to keep it under control.

Conclusion

It is clear that the interconnections found in nature is both extremely beautiful and complex. The genetic engineering of foods is an attempt to control something that we do not understand. We can control bits of it, but those bits are intimately connected to many other bits, and there will therefore always be unpredictable knock on effects elsewhere. Unfortunately, it may take years for us to become aware of some of these adverse effects, and by then it may be too late.

         The application of technologies should never be used in a selfish way. We must respect the reality that we share our planet with so many other life forms. We must respect the interconnection between life, and the dynamic and delicate balance that exists in creation. The Quran reminds us not to be so arrogant and egocentric and to appreciate that we are but a tiny part of the whole. We will finish on this beautiful verse, simply put, yet with a profound message:

     "Assuredly the creation Of the heavens And the earth Is a greater(matter) Than the creation of men .Yet most men understand not. Quran (40:57)"