Monsanto on the defensive, kicks off ad campaign

Sharad Mistry

Mumbai, Dec 7: Agro chemicals major Monsanto which is in the eye of a storm has decided to clear the misconception about the `terminator gene' by releasing ads in the national dailies.

The advertisements which appeared on Monday in major national dailies reads thus: "At present there are misperceptions about gene protection (`terminator technology') and Bollgard (Bt) cotton. This statement is being made in the public interest to clarify the facts and publicly state Monsanto's commitment to the Indian farmers."

The said ad clarified that Bollgard cotton does not contain the so-called terminator technology. Mahyco is conducting Bollgard (Bt) cotton trials in India with all necessary government approvals. Gene protection technology is not a reality anywhere in the world including India'.

As regards gene protection (terminator) technology, Monsanto goes on to explain that:

The concept of gene protection technology, christened `terminator' by opponents of biotechnology, has been developed and patentedby Delta & Pine Land alongwith the US Department of Agriculture (USDA);

The patent is conceptual only and the technology currently does not exist in reality. It would take years and millions of dollars of research before it could become a reality, if at all;

Monsanto does not have any product that contain such technology anywhere in the world.

Bollgard (Bt) cotton contains a gene from the soil born bacteria Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) and not gene protection (terminator) technology.

When the Bollgard gene is put into Indian cotton plants, no other plant characteristics change. The current cotton plant remains exactly the same only acquiring insect resistance.

Cotton farmers across the world are increasingly adopting Bollgard cotton technology, which (Monsanto claims) is the most advanced technology available today for controlling Bollworms, the devastating Indian cotton pest. Bollgard is used on more than three million acres each year in the major cotton growing areas ofAmerica, Australia, South Africa & China and has significantly reduced their pesticide usage and has given farmers increased yields.

Mahyco have been developing Bollgard cotton according to the department of biotechnology (DoB) guidelines over the last three years. In 1998, the DoB approved 40 limited field trials. This approval was granted after all the required toxicity, environmental and agronomic data had been submitted and accepted.

Promising that Monsanto respects the Indian government's position, the ad concluded promising that it will only bring in technologies that increases choices and opportunities of farmers. Monsanto has been working with Indian farmers over the last 30 years, respects their rights and is committed to developing new technologies that will increase farm productivity and farmer well-being.

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