Author: Phelim Kyne
Publication: Dow Jones Newswires
Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2002

BEIJING - Two Chinese researchers say a Greenpeace China report alleging environmental damage caused by genetically-modified Bt cotton strains introduced by U.S. agribusiness company Monsanto (MON) is incorrect and biased.

In a jointly-written refutation, agricultural scientists Shirong Jia and Yufa Peng of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences said the report results produced for the international environmental lobby group were seriously flawed.

``We think that the conclusions made by the author of the report published by Greenpeace are incorrect (because) a large amount of positive results haven`t been quoted and many other results have been painted in a negative way,`` the report said.

The Greenpeace document, produced by a State Environment Protection Administration research institute, argues Monsanto Bt cotton has destabilized China`s insect ecology and perpetuated farmers` reliance on harmful chemical pesticides.

The document estimated 1.5 million hectares, or 35% of China`s total cotton crop output, consists of Bt cotton. Two thirds of that Bt cotton has been supplied by Monsanto.

But Peng and Jia said a large body of government and independent research on the impact of Bt cotton in China has shown overwhelmingly positive results.

``The greatest environmental impact of Bt cotton was its benefit to the environment (due to) a significant reduction of chemical pesticide use,`` the report said. ``(Bt cotton) not only reduced environmental pollution, but also reduced the rate of harmful accidents to humans and animals caused by the overuse of pesticides.``

Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences Professor Xue Dayuan, who was credited with compiling the Greenpeace report, admitted his anti-GMO bias but rejected criticism of the report`s conclusions.

``I think I`m a little biased`` Xue told Dow Jones Newswires. ``I didn`t use some research evidence that showed the advantages of Bt cotton because I was focusing on the adverse (effects)...but I deny this is a very biased report.``

The Greenpeace document was a compilation of previously published research data by other scientists that showed clear evidence of negative effects of Bt cotton in China, Xue said.

Xue defended his selective use of data due to concerns that pro-Bt cotton research results from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences researcher Wu Kongming were unreliable because the research had been funded by Monsanto.

But Monsanto Greater China President John L. Killmer dismissed Xue`s criticisms over the reliability of Wu`s data.

``We chose Dr. Wu`s team because they have been working on insect resistance management for more than 15 years,`` Killmer said. ``Their work is well respected by scientific peers around the world and is published in refereed professional journals.``

Xue said he had issued the report to stimulate debate in China on the potential long-term negative effects of genetically modified crops.

``So many people say biotech agricultural products are good but I just wanted to reveal that it isn`t all good,`` Xue said. ``In the future (pest) resistance to Bt cotton could be a big problem so people should be prepared (because) nobody knows what will happen.``

Xue also said Monsanto was spreading Bt cotton use in China by offering free overseas travel opportunities to local officials who market the genetically modified seeds to farmers.

Monsanto`s Killmer denied direct involvement in such promotions and said that joint venture companies that produced and sold Monsanto Bt cotton in China offered the free trips to particularly successful distributors.