The name ‘Bt cotton’ comes up every now and then. Bt cotton is a genetically modified (GM) variety of cotton and its seed contains genetically engineered soil bacterium gene, Bacillus thuringiensis, which acts as a natural toxin against insects and pests including bollworms. Bt cotton initially led to the increase in yield per hectare in India, and major reductions in pesticide use in China. This type of cotton seed has been used by several other countries such as USA, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa and Pakistan to reduce pesticide use, and consequently contribute to a positive impact on the environment. There is evidence that countries, which have allowed the cultivation of Bt cotton at a commercial level, have effectively gained in terms of higher yield and lower pesticide use.
Initially GM seeds (genetically modified seeds) adopted by developed countries were expensive but gradually the use of the Bt cotton seed spread to developing countries as well. It was widely believed that Bt cotton not only decreased spraying against the pest cotton bollworm, but also reduced the spreading of the pest on other crops. However, the views on Bt cotton have not always been sanguine.
Time and again, questions have been raised on GM seeds as they are super expensive. However, aggressive marketing tactics had convinced poor Indian farmers that the high seed-cost would be compensated by higher yield and savings on pesticides. Many farmers soon realized that Bt cotton was weak to fight bollworms effectively and ended up buying expensive pesticides and other GM seeds for the new planting cycle. Slowly, the steps taken to revolutionize food growth are believed to have turned into a vicious cycle of debt, poverty and suicides. GM seeds were then believed to have reinforced a farming process, which undermined the sustainability of poor Indian farmers.
The questions raised over the environmental and health impacts of Bt cotton seem to have subsided. In the recent past, little has been published on impacts of genetically modified (GM) crops on environment. But does that in any way reduce their harmful impacts? Very recently, farmers in Karnataka were found in a state of disillusion with the tall claims of genetically modified cotton and finally went back to growing indigenous varieties, after sowing Bt cotton for a few years. They believed that hybrids are costly, give low yield and lead to the disappearance of honeybees.
It is true that the world's changing climate has raised concerns about feeding a growing population. And many farmers across the world believe that genetic engineering will lead to the development of crops that will adapt to the changing climate. Bt cotton has been widely approved and a major percentage of India's cotton is now genetically modified. Nevertheless, growers face problems of non-availability of quality Bt cotton seeds and exposure to unapproved Bt varieties readily available in the market. This may lead to reduction in yields of poor quality crops. Considering the present scenario, at times it seems like adoption of biotechnology is not about science, but rather political science. As far as the environment is concerned, the conflicting views of the different schools of thought regarding GM crops’ impact will remain a lingering issue for the years to come.
