216,859 Signatures Collected for the “We don’t want genetically modified rice!” Campaign to Deliver to Prime Minister

216,859 Signatures Collected for the "We don't want genetically modified rice!" Campaign to Deliver to Prime Minister Koizumi

On January 30, 2002, Japanese consumer and producer organizations approving of the signatures campaign against genetically modified rice sponsored a meeting to present the signatures in the No.1 Diet Hall for the Lower House.
The collected signatures were delivered in person to a representative of the Cabinet.
Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) were in attendance and directly answered questions from the organizers.
Questions focused on the current state of genetically modified rice, especially on "Matsuribare," genetically modified rice being jointly developed by the Aichi-ken Agricultural Research Center and Monsanto.
Matsuribare received approval for environmental safety from MAFF in May 2001. With this approval, Matsubari can be cultivated in regular fields. However, Matusribare is not actually being cultivated outside experimental fields. In order to develop products, Matsuribare must receive approval from MHLW as a genetically modified food item.
If Matsuribare receives recognition as safe food in Japan, it will not be cultivated domestically only, but it may also be cultivated in China.
There are a few reservations about the environmental safety evaluation for Matsubari by MAFF.
Although there are difficulties with Matsuribare such as short plant height, small number of grain-bearing ears, and significant differences in yield, MAFF has determined that these factors do not constitute a problem. There is also a question whether these significant differences will affect other varieties.
Furthermore, MAFF has determined that hybridization due to pollen is not a problem because rice is a self-pollinating plant and because the chance of pollination beyond a distance of 30 centimeters is 0.23% for non-genetically modified rice and 0.26% for genetically modified rice, which are virtually identical.
However, this also means that a small amount of cross-hybridization is occurring.
In Japan, because rice is grown throughout the nation, it is predicted that genetic contamination because of genetically modified Matsuribare will occur.
MAFF’s environmental impact assessment does not consider these realities of Japanese agriculture and environment.
On the other hand, MOE is involved in the ratification of the Cartagena Protocol that addresses this problem.
MOE is just beginning investigations into how genetically modified crops affect wildlife, if genetic diversity will be affected by cross-hybridization, and whether the wildlife population will decrease. But, this effort is late.
When asked about the purpose of the development of genetically modified crops by Monsanto and the MAFF-affiliated Aichi-ken Agricultural Research Center, the MAFF representative emphasized the possibilities of genetically modified crops by indicating that they would reduce agricultural chemicals, aid in environmental protection, create new functionality in foods, and aid in human health.
This answer prompted some in the audience to say that they were the same as Monsanto and other development companies because they put corporate profits first.
This theory on "Prevention Principles" for food is also taken up in the FAO/WHO Codex Committee and the EU. MAFF and MHLW were question as to their stance in this issue. Both ministries expressed the opinion that genetically modified food is subjected to advanced safety examinations and that damage to ecosystems and health is being prevented.
However, as the outbreak of Mad Cow Disease (BSE) in September 2001 in Japan shows, the current safety examination cannot be said to be functional against predictable dangers.
At this meeting, participating consumers and producers tried to express their anxieties over genetically modified rice. But the government had no new explanations or information to offer these citizens who had collected 210 thousand signatures.
A rice store owner in Ibaragi stated, "Now, the number of people growing rice in Japan's agricultural communities is decreasing suddenly. If genetically modified rice is grown, the numbers will drop even more drastically and consumption will also drop."
Ms. Hashimoto of Teikeimai Network ("Cooperative Rice Network") also expressed an opposing opinion (following article).
In response to this opposition of genetically modified foods by Japanese citizens, the Japanese government is pushing the Green Frontier Policy and continuing the development of genetically modified rice.
Currently, the Japanese government is approving almost all applications for genetically modified foods. Therefore, our next move is to raise public opinion and put increased pressure on developers so that application for food safety examination for genetically modified rice such as Matsuribare will not made to MHLW. We cannot fail.

Namiko Ono




Teikeimai Network's Akiko Hashimoto's Appeal (Summary)

I am an organic farmer in Yasato town in Ibaraki prefecture.
In the summer of 2001, StarLink Corn became a problem. It was confirmed that some corm seeds coming into Japan were contaminated with genetically modified material.
Organic farmers who were harvesting or who were beginning to plant had to search for uncontaminated seeds. However, almost all corn seeds marketed in Japan are imported, and non-genetically modified, domestic seeds were unavailable.
Last year, producers could not provide consumers with corn.
Corn is not our staple food. If we ever had this problem with rice, the problem would be enormous.
Rice is our daily staple.
Rice cultivation and breeding has been occurring over a long period of time, throughout the islands of Japan, by the hand of our farmers.
If genetically modified rice is cultivate in Japan, crossbreeding will occur. My long experience tells me, and any farmer knows, that crossbreeding across varieties happens all the time.
When crossbreeding happens, there will be no way to easily separate the genetically modified seeds from the traditional seeds. Once crossbreeding has occurred, there will be no way to remove the contamination. There is a chance that even heritage seeds that are saved from year to year will be contaminated by genetically modified rice.
Once the contamination has occurred and the danger is understood, how can we protect our children or grandchildren?
I am opposed to genetically modified rice because crossbreeding will force it on all of us, even the growers and consumers who oppose genetically modified food.

[ May 28, 2002 | NGO's_infomation ]