Move to lift ban on GM trials inThailand

1.Move to lift ban on GM crop field trials
2.Advice on GMOs for the prime minister

GM papaya trials in Thailand have previously led to a major contamination scandal triggering the costly cancellations of export orders and a plummeting price for the fruit on the domestic market. But, according to the article below, that isn't stopping Thailand's ag ministry from suggesting more of the same.

LAST TIME AROUND

The market reaction to possible GM contamination has been "faster than the bird flu impact", and a leading Thai fruit exporter has said cancellations have already cost the Thai industry one billion baht (NZ$37 million)
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4316

"This is potentially one of the worst cases of genetic contamination of a major food crop in Asia as this station is one of the largest suppliers of papaya seeds in the country," - Varoonvarn Svangsopakul, GE campaigner in Southeast Asia.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4182

Genetically-modified (GM) seeds had contaminated a third of 31 papaya orchards studied in July, Thailand's Human Rights Commission said, calling for tough public safeguards against the technology.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5687

THIS TIME AROUND

Last Friday, the group's representatives were briefed by biotechnology experts at a seminar in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. They were told that GM technology could help them tackle the problem because GM papaya were able to resist the virus.

But on being questioned by the press, experts conceded that the GM papaya incorporating virus genes found in Khon Kaen, which are believed to be the most virulent, only resisted virus strains from 13 [OUT OF OVER 70!] provinces.
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1.Move to lift ban on GM crop field trials
Tests 'may shed light on the pros and cons'
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG
Bangkok Post, Nov 18 2005
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Nov2005_news18.php

The Agriculture Department plans to ask the cabinet to lift the ban on field trials of genetically modified crops, reasoning that such trials may shed light on the pros and cons of the technology. Newly-appointed department chief Adisak Sreesunpagit said in a press release that the decision was made after a group of northeastern farmers calling themselves the Farmer Institute Network urged the department to ask the government to review its ban on GM crops.

They said their papaya crops have been damaged by the ringspot virus for over 10 years and they want the government to help them solve the problem.

To determine if the GM papaya could resist all virus strains, they said they needed to conduct studies in all 76 provinces.

In the press release, Mr Adisak said the department is gathering information produced by its researchers to accompany the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry's request for the cabinet to consider lifting the GM field trial ban.

Buntoon Srethasirote, a member of a sub-panel on bio-diversity and intellectual property rights under the National Human Rights Commission, suggested the department clarify why GM papaya was being grown illegal, allegedly because seeds were taken from its research station in Khon Kaen, instead of attempting to have the government withdraw the current ban on GM field trials. He said any such leak of GM seeds would reflect department GM crop management flaws and this problem needed to be corrected first.

"This has already caused many farmers to unintentionally violate the law,'' he said, adding that major markets still refuse to accept GM produce and this is hindering farmers from selling their papaya.

Mr Adisak, meanwhile, confirmed that the department is preparing GM papaya study materials for the Agriculture Ministry. But he refused to confirm if his department planned to ask for the lifting of the field trial ban.
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2.Advice on GMOs for the prime minister
POSTBAG
Bangkok Post, 28 August 2004
http://www.biothai.org/cgi-bin/content/news/show.pl?0285

We are writing to express our dismay at the news that you intend to give the green light to GM crops in Thailand. Your doing so risks grave harm both to Thailand's standing in the world and to the marketability of Thai agricultural produce.

We strongly support your exporters, farmers, consumers and civil society groups who are warning you that this is not in the interests of Thailand.

You have talked about the need for Thailand to jump aboard the biotech train before it's too late. This makes us wonder what you have been led to believe about where that train is heading? Were you told, for instance, of a recent report from one of the world's leading business advisory firms, Ernst & Young, showing that publicly traded biotechnology companies in the US are estimated to have suffered cumulative losses of more than $41 billion in the last decade or so?

Were you told that the economist and biotech-industry specialist, Joseph Cort-right has described as a "bad-idea virus" the fever that sweeps through political leaders leaving them believing they must succour the money-losing biotech industry or suffer a competitive disadvantage?

Cortright's research on the biotech industry leads him to conclude: "This notion that you lure biotech to your community to save its economy is laughable."

Outside the developing world, GM crops are in serious retreat, as witnessed by Monsanto's recent announcements that it will: Stop all further efforts to introduce GM wheat globally; stop its GM canola breeding programmes in Australia; withdraw its cereal programmes from Europe. Other GM firms, like Bayer and Syngenta, have suffered similar setbacks.

You have said that Europe has opened its doors to GMOs but that is certainly not the view of countries like the US, who are trying to export GM crops to Europe. That is why the US is pressing ahead with its WTO action against the EU.

In fact, the EU has just brought in the world's most stringent rules on GMOs. Many European food companies and supermarkets also have policies of not allowing GMOs in their products.

This is the reason why the biotech industry, with the unprecedented backing of the US government, is trying to push its dubious wares in countries in Asia. Countries like Thailand have become the principal targets of a desperate industry.

GM crop supporters have doubtless told you that you are in danger of falling behind in Asia's "biotech race".

But look more closely and you'll see that that is nonsense. Monsanto has already pulled out of GM in Indonesia, where it is under investigation for corruption.

China's political leaders appear at best ambivalent about going further down the GM route because of increasing evidence of consumer hostility while experts like Prof Dayuan Xue warn that GM crops have brought no "significant benefits" to China's many small farmers.

One particularly intractable problem for your farmers and exporters is that GM contamination is difficult to contain or avoid, and the costs of trying to do so can be prohibitive. In addition, no studies have been conducted on the long-term effects of GM crops on the environment or on human health.

We therefore ask you not to base your decision solely on the advice of biotech advocates and the demands of Washington and corporations eager to export seeds and products to Thailand that are unwelcome elsewhere in the world. We ask you not to ignore the rights of your farmers and consumers just because of the hype and pressure that is coming from the US and the biotech corporations and their local supporters.

We ask you not to put at risk Thailand's excellent name for quality agricultural produce. And, most of all, we ask you to consult your farmers and consumers about whether they want GM crops.

JONATHAN MATTHEWS
Director, GM Watch
www.gmwatch.org