[Editor’s note: Dr. Amjad M. Husaini is a professor of biotechnology at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in India.]
Despite the availability of promising research results, many applications of biotechnology have not met their full potential to deliver practical solutions in developing countries.
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Besides political, socioeconomic, cultural and ethical concerns about modern biotech crops related to the fear of technological “neo-colonialism” in developing countries, intellectual property rights, land ownership, customer choices, negative cultural and religious perceptions, and fear of the unknown have impeded the spread of these crops. Such public concerns fueled and supported by vested interests have led to the over-regulation of this technology.
It is not the difference of “scientific” opinion that has hindered large-scale acceptance of biotech crops, but the prejudiced campaign by vested interests and NGO’s.
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Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution, once commented that “GMOs can play a very vital role in peoples’ lives. However, this must be accompanied by political good will because technology alone cannot survive without decisive support.” His close associate and 1st World Food Prize Winner Professor M.S. Swaminathan has pitched for promoting more public sector research in GM technology so that there can be inclusiveness in access to technology.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: Bio-politics of GM Crops: A Counter Point to “The Big Business of Genetically Modified Food”
For more background on the Genetic Literacy Project, read GLP on Wikipedia
