The Hindu : `GM technology has to be regulated'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004

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`GM technology has to be regulated'

By R. Prasad

CHENNAI, MARCH 20 . Britain recently approved the first genetically modified (GM) maize crop to be grown in the country. The decision, according to Sir David A. King, Chief Scientific Adviser to the U.K. Government, was taken after an assessment of the pros and cons of the technology. The implications of GM maize for human health, bio-diversity and gene transfer were taken into account before reaching a final decision. "GM is a new technology, hence careful regulation is needed," Sir King said.

He said genetically modified technology is just one of the many plant breeding technologies. Yet, each GM product has to be examined individually before granting approval. "We have not given a clean chit to the technology nor have we imposed a blanket ban," he said.

With no wild variety of maize present in Britain, the problem of gene transfer from GM maize to non-GM maize, which was one of the biggest areas of concern, was non-existent. He said that people consuming meat or milk from cows fed with GM maize will have no health problem. On gene stacking — crops passing on a succession of GM characteristics which would then have a cumulative effect, he said that it will pose no problems as the phenomenon is the same whatever be the technology used.

According to him, consumers do not see the advantages of the technology. And the mad cow disease that hit Europe and other places made it worse as people became very apprehensive of GM technology.

Referring to the emphasis laid on renewable energy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, he said, Britain planned to reduce these by 60 per cent by 2050.

Already it had reduced emissions by 12 per cent since 1990. Plans were on to generate 10 per cent of Britain's energy requirement from renewable sources by 2010 and 20 per cent by 2020.

Underwater turbine system and nuclear fusion are some of the technologies being looked at for reducing the emission levels.

Most of the renewable energy will ultimately come from underwater turbine systems, which use tidal energy.

The power station sits by the side. Since it is an off shore wind farm with no structure seen above the water surface, the technology is expected not to face any opposition from people unlike conventional wind farms located on land.

The U.S., China, Japan, Russia and South Korea are joining the European Union's effort in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

"We are encouraging India to join the programme," he added.

To become a member, India or any country has to shell out a minimum of 10 per cent of the project cost.

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