In an interview with Sanjeeb Mukherjee, Mark Lynas, a reporter with the Cornell Alliance who reports on crop biotechnology around the world, defends the government’s recent decision to pursue approval of GM mustard.
There is an allegation that use of GM mustard would lead to increased use of herbicide… is any substance to this argument?
The trait that GM mustard has is male-sterility in order to facilitate the use of hybrids, which can increase yield via hybrid vigour. The herbicide tolerance trait was only used in development as a selectable marker for hybrids, and is not intended for use in the field…
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Do you think large-scale commercialisation of GM mustard would wipe out … indigenous varieties…of mustard from the country?
No, because cross-pollination is not an issue. Remember: mustard self-pollinates! That is the whole point of this development, to prevent self-pollination via a male sterility trait, thereby facilitating the use of hybrids…
Many people are questioning the need for GM mustard when existing hybrid varieties give better yield. Your take.
Existing hybrid varieties are … expensive to produce, … mustard is self-pollinating, so it is difficult to … cross-fertilise… in order to produce hybrid vigour. The GM version … simplifies this process, meaning that hybrid vigour will be available to many more farmers at a better cost…
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: GM crop is as safe as any other form of breeding. It’s probably safer: Mark Lynas
