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TITLE: Gene-manipulated Food Creating Havoc |
AUTHOR: Sakuntala Narasimhan |
PUB: Deccan Herald |
DATE: February 20, 2001 |
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Genetically engineered foods emerging in the form of new monopolies controlled by corporations in the west are creating havoc in the developing countries, wiping out small farmers and further impoverishing rural women and children. The whole system of agriculture that welcomes genetic engineering through its aggressive marketing promotes monocultures and devastates biodiversity and cultural diversity and lessens the sources of our food security, leading women activists cautioned here yesterday. Participating in a panel discussion on 'Genetic engineering and Food safety', renowned activists including Dr.Vandana Shiva, Prof. Jean Grossholtz from North America and Dr. Ursula Oswald from Latin America expressed concern that globalisation has resulted in the collapse of prices of farm products as import curbs are removed and subsidized items flood the market. Genetically manipulated food has serious consequences from the environmental, social and health points of view, said Dr Oswald of Mexico. U.S. studies show a 140 per cent increase in the incidence of breast cancer among women and 180 per cent increase in the incidence of prostate cancers among men as a result of such food intake, she added. END |