INTERVIEW - Thais resisting Monsanto's BT cotton
Date: 31-Jan-00
Country: THAILAND
"It's one of the toughest tasks we have ever been through, attempting to
convince the government on the safety standards of BT cotton. I think
Thailand has set very tough rules on genetically modified organism (GMO)
products," general manager for the agricultural sector, Sanya
Bhumichitra, told Reuters.
"It would take some more time, perhaps a year or two, to go on with the
BT cotton plan. Anyway, it totally depends on the authorities," he said
in an interview.
Monsanto Thailand, a unit of the New York-listed Monsanto Co , wants to
bring in pest resistant BT cotton seeds to try to help boost Thai cotton
yields and cut expensive imports.
But the move has been roundly opposed by environmentalists claiming the
introduction of BT cotton into the market would affect local varieties
and possibly public health.
Opposition to GMO products in Thailand, a leading world commodities
exporter, has led to import bans on over 40 BT agricultural items.
Sanya said Thailand imported about 95 percent of cotton worth about 16
billion baht consumed locally. It was paradoxical that Thailand, a
leading world textile producer still had to rely largely on imported raw
materials.
"Thailand is losing its competitive edge to China and Indonesia, where
labour costs are much cheaper. Moreover, China has started planting BT
cotton and will soon have an edge over us in term of material sourcing,"
he added.
"The environmentalists have never looked at the other side of the coin.
This BT cotton is going to do more good than harm. Why do we keep on
with cotton that returns lower yield?" he said.
Sanya said Monsanto also had plans to import seeds for BT corn, which is
drought-resistant and requires small amounts of pesticide.
"Considering the lengthy process of screening BT cotton, I believe it
would take years for the government to deregulate its existing ban on BT
corn," he said.
Monsanto said it has 30 percent of Thailand's corn seed market, the
second largest market share.
The Charoen Pokphand Group dominates about half of the market where
demand was about 18,000 tonnes of corn seeds, worth 1.2 billion baht,
last year.
Monsanto's seed sales in 1999 were worth about two billion baht, rising
10 percent from the previous year. The company has projected sales
growth of about 15 percent this year.
