14 February, 2010 — Mathaba.net – Rallyround the Flag

Trevor wells of the Farmer’s Legal Action Group in South Africa, takes a further look at the threats to life of reckless science

Farmer’s Legal Action Group- South Africa

India’s official reasons for more research and tests are welcomed. The official Indian Government Statement of the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Forests takes into account serious concerns from the international community surrounding the build up of resistance to the beneficial Bacillus Thurengiensis.

Dr. Jack Heinemann of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand pointed out that the Bt-brinjal tests conducted in India would not meet careful international standards.

Resistance Management Strategies are essentially developed based on output profiles of stochastic models which integrate toxicological, ecological, genetic and biological parameters. Stochastic models for resistance should be developed to calculate resistance risk and devise pro-active Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategies.

The structured refuge strategy of 5% conventional Brinjal within the ecosystems of Bt-Brinjal proposed by Monsanto is based on basic simplistic assumptions and not through defined algorithms and modeling and was unceremoniously rejected.

Mathaba News has previously reported on the serious ecological malfunction caused by the introduction of GM crops in Africa.

The African Experience, recorded below, is pertinent.

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