Monsanto's Genetically Engineered Cotton Kills the Soil as Well as Farmers*

Biosafety refers to ensuring that GMO’s do not harm the environment or
health.

The soil, its fertility, and the organisms which maintain the fertility
of soil are a vital aspect of the environment, especially in the context
of food and agricultural production.

A recent scientific study carried out by Navdanya, compared the soil of
fields where Bt-cotton had been planted for 3 years with adjoining
fields with non GMO cotton or other crops. The region covered included
Nagpur, Amravati and Wardha of Vidharbha which accounts for highest GMO
cotton planting in India, and the highest rate of farmers suicides (4000
per year).

In 3 years, Bt-cotton has reduced the population of Actinomycetes by
17%. Actinomycetes are vital for breaking down cellulose and creating humus.

Bacteria were reduced by 14%. The total microbial biomass was reduced by
8.9%.

Vital soil beneficial enzymes which make nutrients available to plants
have also been drastically reduced. Acid Phosphatase which contributes
to uptake of phosphates was reduced by 26.6%. Nitrogenase enzymes which
help fix nitrogen were reduced by 22.6%.

At this rate, in a decade of planting with GM cotton, or any GM crop
with Bt genes in it, could lead to total destruction of soil organisms,
leaving dead soil unable to produce food.

The ISAAA in its recent release has stated that there are 7.6 mha of
Bt-cotton in India. This means 7.6 mha of dying soils.

The impact of GMO’s on soil organisms is not commonly studied. This is a
vital lacunae because Bt toxin crops such as Mon 810 corn or Bt-cotton
or Bt Brinjal have serious impact on beneficial soil organisms.

The government of India is trying to grant approval to Bt Brinjal
without Bio safety studies on impact on Soil organisms. The European
Commissión is trying to put pressure on GMO free countries to introduce
Mon 810.

The Navdanya study the first that has looked at the long term impact of
Bt cotton on soil organisms is a wake up to regulators worldwide. It
also shows that the claims of the Biotechnology industry about the
safety of GM crops are false.