Genetically Engineered (GE) Trees
Introduction
The biotechnology industry claims that genetically engineered (GE) trees are capable of growing faster, producing superior quality wood, and tolerating extreme temperatures. These traits, proponents argue, make GE trees a potential boon to forestry, particularly in addressing the challenges of climate change.
Historical Background
- The first field trials of GE trees began in Belgium in 1988, focusing on herbicide-resistant and fast-growing poplar trees. In 2002, China became the first country to establish commercial plantations of GE poplar trees as part of its strategy to combat deforestation. Starting with just 300 hectares, China has since expanded GE tree plantations on a large scale, integrating the technology into its forestry sector. Latin American countries like Brazil and Argentina, already leaders in genetically modified (GM) food crops, are also experimenting with GE trees to increase pulp and paper production.
Are GE Trees Safer than GM Crops?
Arguments in Favour
- Proponents of GE trees argue that the technology is safe and should not be feared. They point to the United Nations’ approval of GE tree plantations as carbon sinks under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism. This endorsement has encouraged several countries to adopt the technology for carbon sequestration and forestry development.
Arguments Against
- Environmentalists, however, caution that GE trees may pose even greater ecological risks than GM crops. Unlike annual crops, trees are perennial and live much longer, making it difficult to predict how genetic modifications will manifest over time. Trees are also wild and undomesticated, increasing uncertainty about how introduced genes will behave in natural ecosystems. Studies have documented that tree pollen can travel over 600 km, raising concerns that GE tree pollen could contaminate vast tracts of native forests, disrupt biodiversity, and threaten ecological balance. Such contamination could also harm pollinators like honeybees, affecting both wild plants and agricultural crops.
Who is Developing GE Trees and Why?
- GE trees are being developed primarily by ArborGen, a subsidiary of Monsanto, along with oil companies such as British Petroleum (BP) and Chevron. These companies view GE trees as a potential source of ethanol, an alternative green fuel. As ethanol derived from food crops faced criticism for driving up food prices, non-food cellulose feedstocks like GE trees emerged as a promising alternative for biofuel production.
GE Trees in India
- In India, the first experiment with GE trees involved rubber trees, developed by the Rubber Research Institute in Kerala. These trees were engineered for drought resistance and enhanced environmental stress tolerance, enabling rubber cultivation in non-traditional, unfavourable regions. Field trials of GE rubber trees were approved during the tenure of then Environment Minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh, who argued that genetically modified trees posed less risk than GM food crops. However, this claim is disputed, as rubber tree seeds are used as cattle feed and could enter the food chain through milk. Moreover, Kerala, which produces significant quantities of honey from rubber plantations, raised concerns about potential impacts on biodiversity and biosafety. Kerala, a GM-free state, voiced strong opposition, but experiments have since moved to Maharashtra.
Concerns About the Approach
- The push for GE trees reflects the dominance of western forestry science, which prioritizes forests as commercial sources of wood and pulp. This mindset has historically led to the replacement of diverse natural forests with monocultures of commercially valuable species like teak and eucalyptus, often with negative consequences for the environment, biodiversity, and indigenous communities. The adoption of GE tree plantations risks perpetuating this trend, causing further damage to India’s forests and natural ecosystems.