Indian Farmers Protest Terminator Seed
22 March 2006 The signees, known as the South Against Genetic Engineering (SAGE), hailed from a coalition of 50 networks of South Indian farmers, civil groups, consumer movements, scientists, and academics. Their petition coincided with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was underway in Brazil, and is charged with making a decision on Terminator technology.
Terminator seed technology uses a genetic trait to make mature plants incapable of reproduction. In doing so, the seed is prevented from being re-sown or sold — both of which are illegal with the purchase of additional seed licensing.
Corporations that develop biotechnology hope to use the Terminator trait in order to prevent illegal and non-licensed use of their products; opponents fear that releasing such a trait into the field could risk transference of the trait to indigenous varieties of plants, or pose other threats to biodiversity and traditional farming practices.
Get The Newsletter Today!
