GMO redux

After a two-month hiatus, reports on GMO seed technology have once again begun to do rounds in print media. Last week, a USDA official, speaking to English daily, noted that “approval of genetically-engineered maize is currently being considered in Pakistan. It would offer farmers a tool to increase their production and reduce use of agricultural chemicals”.

Vilified as multinational biotech conglomerates may be in the developed world given the spree of lawsuits losses over cancer claims, introduction of seed technology in Pakistan makes little to no business case. Pakistan’s current import bill for hybrid maize seed averages $60 million annually, literally peanuts for giants churning billion of dollars in exports to China and South American markets. While local opposition to any controversial technology due to fears of health hazards is welcome, the truth could not be dearer.

For one, it is no secret that controversy stirred around introduction of GMO has primarily been lobbied by local seed companies, motivated by preserving market share in the face of onslaught from high yield genetically modified seeds.

Pakistan’s existing seed market is highly fragmented, with most rural regions relying on small-seed companies just big enough to service district level demand. Punjab alone has over 550 registered seed companies, most of which function as proprietorships with footprint small enough that tehsil name forms part of their title.

It should come as little surprise then that most such firms have little to near-absent financial muscle to invest in R&D. Primarily functioning as traders managing the supply-and-demand needs of their area; these rely on already existing seeds developed by publicly-funded national and provincial agri-research institutes. Few medium-sized players also exist but have a tarred reputation of stealing seed technology from multinationals and marketing as ‘indigenously developed technology’ after re-branding.

What about the health hazards of GMOs? Suffice it is to say that we are already there. Nearly all of cotton planted in the country has been relying upon genetically modified Bt. cotton over the last two decades; that too introduced through illicit means and lacking any stewardship efforts by the multi-national intellectual property/patent owners. Meaning that not only has the seed technology been compromised – often noted by the staggering decline in cotton yield – but that the likes of Monsanto and Bayer take no responsibility for it.

But cotton is only a fibre crop, one might argue. Except that cottonseed oil constitute a major part of food-grade/vegetable oil value chain, and most of Pakistan has been consuming genetically modified-based for at least past 15 years. Under what may at best be referred to as “grey area” given lack of regulation or ownership by any part of the privately-owned seed industry, whether local or foreign firms.

It is time that the law makers and lobbyists at least are honest about near absence of regulation in the seed industry. Health hazards or not, GMO is already here. Best to regularize it than to keep heads bury in the sand.