AgroPages-Malawi civil society opposes Monsanto’s GM cotton-Agricultural news

Civil society groups in Malawi are strongly opposing the proposed release of Monsanto's GM cotton on scientific, legal, and socio-economic grounds.

An alliance of 19 civil society organisations and an organic vegetable farmers group led by the Commons for EcoJustice (EcoJustice) and representing Malawian small-scale farmers, faith-based organisations, organic movements, non-governmental organisations and the media, among others, have lodged a substantive submission to the Malawian authorities, vehemently opposing Monsanto’s application to obtain a general release permit for its genetically modified (GM) cotton, MON 15985, commonly known as Bollgard II.

Monsanto’s application to commercialize GM crops in Southern Africa is the first of its kind, apart from South Africa where transgenic crops have been cultivated since 1997. MON 15985 is genetically engineered to be insect resistant in that target insect pests that eat it will die. The target pests of MON 15985 are Lepidopteran insect pests.

If successful, the commercial release permit will allow Monsanto’s GM cotton to be cultivated in the entire cotton-growing region of Malawi, including Lakeshore, Shire Valley (Chikwawa and Nsanje districts), and the central and upland zone regions, Lower Shire region and the southern region upland areas around Balaka district.

In Malawi, the bulk of cotton production is carried out by small-scale farmers farming under contract, involving around 400,000 families. The majority of cotton produced in Malawi is exported as lint/fibers, with a small proportion being exported as seed for processing for use as cotton-seed oil and other edible products. A number of public-private partnerships also exist to develop and support the cotton sector in Malawi, such as the Cotton made in Africa project involving the German government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Cotton made in Africa project specifically prohibits the use of GM cotton, which gives rise to serious concerns about the impact GM contamination may have on the workings and future of the project.

The civil society opposition to Monsanto’s application is founded upon scientific, socio-economic and administrative justice grounds. Some of the most worrying concerns include:

Monsanto has failed to consult the public and key stakeholders adequately on the socio-economic impacts the cultivation of its GM cotton will have on local livelihoods.
Monsanto’s application does not consider the issue of an increase in secondary pest populations once the target pest population is reduced.
Insect resistance to Bt toxins has been documented in various parts of the world, including in Africa.Insect resistance to Bollgard I has already rendered the technology ineffective in several countries.