Genetic Engineering: Questions of Ethics and Effectiveness

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Case Details:

Case Code : BECG079
Case Length : 17 Pages
Period : 1990-2007
Pub Date : 2007
Teaching Note :Not Available
Organization : -
Industry : Agri-products
Countries : Worldwide

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This case study was compiled from published sources, and is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion. It is not intended to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. Nor is it a primary information source.

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"Society must be informed simply but correctly about the potential of genetic research. This means researchers must learn to inform and communicate. Unfortunately, few researchers are truly good communicators. Another problem is that part of the population does not want to know or understand, preferring to reject systematically what is new."¹

- Arsène Burny, Professor, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux²

"This [Genetic pollution] is a new kind of pollution. You don't see it. It disseminates. It reproduces. It mutates. It's living pollution."³

- Andrew Kimbrell, Director, Center for Food Safety⁴, in July 2007

"I think many people just want to make things better. It's part of human nature. You want to have a better agriculture...more income for farmers…more dependable farming...cheaper food...all [of] which can be produced through biotechnology." ⁵

- Dr. James Watson, Molecular Biologist and Nobel Laureate, in January 2007

Introduction

In May 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)⁶ gave its final approval to Ventria Bioscience (Ventria)⁷ to grow genetically modified (GM) rice in the state of Kansas. The company planned to grow the rice, engineered to contain human genes, on 3,200 acres near Junction City, Kansas.⁸

Ventria intended to extract proteins from the GM rice and use them to prepare pharmaceutical drugs that would cure diarrhea and dehydration. The USDA gave its approval despite receiving thousands of letters from public interest groups demanding denial of permission.

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Since 1995, when the first GM crops were brought to market, genetic engineering (GE) had polarized the policy makers as well as the public into passionate supporters and detractors.

In the 2000s, countries in various regions of the world began growing GM crops on a large scale. Even as the area under GM crops increased significantly (Refer Exhibit I for the area under GM crops in various countries and countrywise distribution of land area under GM crops), the debate among environmentalists, scientists, seed companies, public interest groups, and governments, regarding both the safety and viability of GM crops, only intensified.

The supporters of GM crops were of the opinion that such crops could solve the problems of hunger and malnutrition and could contribute to the conservation of the environment by reducing the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides.

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1] "Session 1 - Genetics and Human Health,"The Forum Programme, www.ec.europa.eu.

2] Agronomiques de Gembloux or Gembloux Agricultural University, established in 1860 in Gembloux, Belgium, is a reputed agricultural university that offers specialized courses in Agronomic Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Technologies, and Chemistry and Bio-industries.

3] Marc Gunther, "Attack of Mutant Rice,"www.cnnmoney.com, July 02, 2007.

4] The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy membership organization established in 1997 by the International Center for Technology Assessment for the purpose of challenging harmful food production technologies and promoting sustainable alternatives. (Source: www.centreforfoodsafety.org)

5] "Nobel Laureate James Watson Supports Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology in Agriculture,"www.prwebdirect.com, January 22, 2007.

6] The USDA supports rural development, food safety, nutrition and research for agricultural technology. The agency is also in charge of national forest and rangelands and works to reduce hunger in the US and internationally. (Source: www.sustainable.org)

7] Ventria Bioscience, headquartered in Sacramento, California, is a biotechnology company. The company's core technology is a plant-based protein production system called ExpressTec. (Source: www.ventria.com)

8] "USDA Gives Final Approval for Genetically Modified Rice in Kansas,"www.hpj.com, June 04, 2007.