While in India many people have raised serious concerns about the safety of Bt Brinjal which has been recommended for introduction in the country by the concerned authorities, the genetically modified sugar beets cultivation, widespread in the US, is being challenged in the courts there. With practically all the sugar produced in that country from sugar beets coming from its GM version, any set back for future cultivation as a result of court orders, will throw the industry into unprecedented turmoil. While safety is not the main contention, it is the devastating effect on organic beets production, because of the real possibility of cross pollination from GM beets field, that is causing concern.
"Introduced into the market in 2008, farmers apparently agreed and Roundup Ready sugar beets saw the fastest adoption rate by farmers of any genetically modified crop. Sugar beets account for more than half of the United States' sugar production, and since the GM beets were deregulated nearly four years ago, nearly 95 percent of sugar beets produced in the US are genetically modified".
Some recent findings by European investigators do indicate that GM versions of corn and soybean are not completely safe and could cause some toxicity to humans. How ever no reports have so far surfaced raising serious safety questions on consumption of sugar made from GM beets. Unlike corn and soybean sugar beets undergo extensive processing leading to crystallization of almost pure sugar and therefore presence of toxic substances is unlikely. The decision of the Court will be awaited eagerly by both the protagonists and antagonists of GM crops realizing its implications on the future of GM technology.
V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com
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