Monsanto has agreed to work with an Indian research company to produce a genetically modified cooking oil that could help hundreds of thousands of vitamin A-deprived children. This philanthropic effort is not without its critics, however, as the debate over "GM" foods continues.
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First it was golden rice, now it's golden mustard. Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) last week announced it will work with a research institute in New Delhi, India to develop a genetically engineered mustard crop that will yield cooking oil high in beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor. The foods received their "golden" moniker because the genetic modifications leave the products with a yellow tint. The effort to produce the nutritious cooking oil will not bring Monsanto, a subsidiary of Pharmacia Corp. (NYSE: PHA), revenue. Instead, the company is donating technical and financial support to the cause. Similar to the golden rice project, which aims to get genetically modified rice into the hands and stomachs of millions of people suffering from vitamin A deficiency (VAD), the golden mustard project is a collaborative effort with noble intentions that has come under attack. The problem The food fight Monsanto, on the other hand, says it can't speak for the rice project, but if the development and adoption of the cooking oil made from the mustard seed is successful, hundreds of thousands of Indian children will benefit. All this is set against the backdrop of disapproval on the part of many people who don't want to see genetically modified food, of any kind, because potential dangers are still unknown. A 1999 Cornell laboratory study that suggested the larvae of the monarch butterfly may be harmed by the pollen of genetically engineered corn is an oft-cited example. Although followup studies showed the corn posed little risk to the caterpillars in field, the incident points to the uncertainty many feel toward the whole bioengineering concept. Opposition from European farmers has historically been particularly vociferous. The future Still, GM food products apparently are here to stay. According to Monsanto's Gary Barton, 50% of the cotton and soybeans and 25% of the corn produced in the United States are genetically engineered. In 1995, there were no genetic crops; today there are over 100 million acres planted worldwide. "Where is the problem?" asks Barton. "Where is the health outbreak?" The farmers have a choice, he says, and a growing number of them plant genetically engineered seeds because of the environmental and economic benefits. It's simple, says Barton: "Organic farming cannot feed the world."
It's estimated that some 40% of the world's population suffers from malnutrition caused by deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals. The World Health Organization says 250 million people suffer from VAD, including 18% of all children in India. The effects can include blindness and a weakening of the immune system, and over one million VAD-associated childhood deaths occur annually.
Critics say the solution is not to implement "technical fixes" through genetic engineering, but to encourage a greater diversity in the food that is grown and consumed. In fact, some say the genetic efforts only exacerbate the existing problem by discouraging diversity in the diet. According to Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN), "The nutritional value of a combination of rice and Moringa leaves is far greater than that of the 'golden rice'." (The Moringa Tree, known as the Ben Oil Tree in English, is a hardy plant that produces leaves and pods high in several nutrients.)
Though the golden mustard project is not a commercial venture for Monsanto, bio-engineered products are a cornerstone of the company. Monsanto and other bio food companies are struggling to improve a public perception clouded by such mishaps as Aventis' (NYSE: AVE) StarLink fiasco, where genetically modified corn approved only for animal consumption found its way into human food products. Investors must consider public opinion and the effect negative sentiment can have on a stock. Opponents of genetically modified (GM) food are well-organized and have some legitimate concerns, even with philanthropic efforts to help millions of malnourished people in underdeveloped countries.
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