Opposition to GMO’s Growing Around the World

In a piece in bulatlat.com, Rhennie Cantiga cites toxicologist Dr. Romy Quijano:

“There are numerous studies on the harmful effects of GMOs but pro-GMO scientists refuse to see this. Their blindness is not caused by GMO but by the money offered by big companies.”

Cantiga goes on to further report:

Citing hazards to health, environment and livelihood of genetically-modified organisms, scientists and farmers reiterated their opposition to the field testing of Bacillus thuringiensis eggplant or Bt Talong.

Proponents of the BT talong recently filed motions for consideration to the decision of the Court of Appeals to stop the field testing of BT Talong.

BT Talong is a genetically modified crop wherein a microorganism is inserted into the eggplant to produce a toxin against pests. This technology was originally from India but was resisted because of the harmful effects to health and the environment found during numerous scientific studies.

Dr. Romy Quijano, a toxicologist and petitioner for the Pesticide Action Network (PAN-Philippines) against the Bt talong said scientific studies have proven the harmful effects of Bt toxins to mammals. He said that several of the mice tested developed cancer and their red blood cells and immune system were damaged.

According to Quijano:

“… Monsanto, an agro-industrial business involved in the production of genetically-modified crops, allegedly tampered and hid the results of scientific testing of Bt crops to present it is a perfectly safe food source, despite the harmful effects that were discovered in the same study.”