Monsanto pushes benefits of GM foods to the environment
Irish Times
March 1, 1999
By Kevin O'Sullivan, Environmental and Food Science
Correspondent
Claims that genetically modified (GM) foods are of no benefit
to consumers do not stand up to examination, according to the
US biotech company Monsanto. It has taken exception to the
Food Safety Authority of Ireland's recent comment that GM
foods currently on the market are of no direct benefit to
consumers.
Monsanto's business manager in Ireland, Dr Patrick O'Reilly,
has accused the FSAI of a "locally-driven" condemnation of
GM foods. It was true, he said, to say there were no GM
crops being produced in Ireland of benefit to consumers but
the global picture indicated large volumes of GM crops already
leading to less pesticide use and greater yields for farmers. This
was translating into returns for consumers, he said.
At the very least, it was leading to a better environment. He
said that within the Irish context, research to be published this
week on Monsanto's GM Irish sugar beet trials last year would
show that GM beet (engineered to withstand Monsanto's
herbicide RoundUp) resulted in 40 per cent less herbicide use
compared to that used by Irish farmers growing conventional
beet. The GM crop had also generated "a 10 per cent yield
benefit".
The controversy surrounding GM foods reached new heights
over the past month and pushed aside calm consideration of
the many merits of the technology, Monsanto has insisted. It
should be noted, Dr O'Reilly said, that genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) have been widely used in the food and
drinks industry for some years without adverse effect. GMOs
were used in the production of beer, breadmaking,
cheesemaking and the production of syrups and mayonnaises.
The reality was that GM crops and plants had been developing
using the same technology over 15 years, while food
advancements were predicted to come in three main waves.
The first was crops with agronomic benefit and already on the
market.
"Examples are crops with better disease resistance; resistance
to insect pests and tolerance to herbicides, such as the sugar
beet being tested in Ireland," Dr O'Reilly said.
These, he said, had to be put in the context of 40 per cent of
the world's food being lost due to pests and diseases despite
advances in crop protection. Improved yields from GM crops
in China since the early 1990s had translated into obvious
consumer benefits.
The second wave was focusing on improved nutritional and
quality aspects. "Coming to the market will be soya bean
varieties that produce lower cholesterol oil; potatoes with
lower fat contents, longer-lasting fruits/vegetables and foods
with improved taste and flavour."
Biotechnology provided the ability to create healthier, more
nutritious foods, but also to address specific needs in particular
parts of the world. The third wave, which was some years
away, was the concept of using plants as biofactories; to
produce materials normally produced in chemical or
pharmaceutical plants. Examples at an advanced research stage
included edible vaccines that can be delivered in bananas or
potatoes.
The GM food debate over the past few weeks was
"reasonably objective" in Ireland compared to the UK, Dr
O'Reilly said, though there was some spill-over here with the
fallout from the furore over controversial research by Dr Arpad
Pusztai which suggested GM foods could impair mammalian
systems. Monsanto has vigorously rejected any suggestion its
products could lead to such effects. From his involvement in
numerous media interviews, particularly on local radio, it was
clear that "people want both sides of the story".
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