Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
intrinsic concerns are central elements in the rejection of genetic engineering by organic
agriculture.
Why organic agriculture rejects the use of GMOs
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM 2002) is opposed to
genetic engineering in agriculture in view of the unprecedented danger it represents for the
entire biosphere and the particular economic and environmental risks it poses for organic pro-
ducers. The reasons mentioned by IFOAM can be clustered into three groups:
1 Risks for human health and the environment
— negative and irreversible environmental impacts
— release of organisms that have never before existed in nature and which cannot be
recalled
— pollution of off-farm organisms
— unacceptable threats to human health.
2 Socioethical reasons
— pollution of the gene pool of cultivated crops, microorganisms and animals
— denial of free choices, both for farmers and consumers
— violation of farmers' fundamental property rights and endangerment of their
economic independence.
3 Incompatibility with the principles of sustainable agriculture.
Risks for human health and the environment
The rejection of GMOs in organic agriculture is based more on a different perception of risks
than upon the presence or absence of scientific proof that risks exist objectively. The percep-
tion of risk from an organic perspective is based on a holistic view of life.
According to the IFOAM EU Group (2003), 'We also view this technology as inherently
risky, because it is based on the reductionist scientific principles that have been shown to be
f flawed and are increasingly discredited'. Some of the reasons why genetic engineering is con-
sidered to be a risky technology by organic agriculture proponents include:
• The gene constructs used are synthetic constructs. The introduction of pure DNA would
lead to its rejection by the receiving organism. The production of synthetic constructs is
needed to have any effect. Whether they work or not is tested in a trial and error process.
• The low efficiency (rate of success) of the technology.
• The introduction of foreign DNA leads to many unintended and unexpected effects (Rist
2000).
• Genetic engineering (and the risk analysis, currently used by scientific committees) is
influenced by the belief in genetic determinism, which is only part of the truth. Non-
genetic, epigenetic influences during the development of the organism as a whole have
shown to be as important as or even more important in some cases than the influence of
DNA. The expression of DNA in the genome is much more dynamic than previously
thought.
• Reductionist approaches to problems in agriculture are seen as symptomatic treatments.
There is evidence of the resistance of insects to the pesticides used in combination with
GMOs, or to Bacillus thuringiensis that is used in insect-resistant GMOs (Stix 1998,
McDonald and Linde 2002).
It is the dynamic complexity of the organism or ecosystem as a whole that leads to unpre-
dictability and unintended effects. The stability of the gene constructs and the controllability
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