Who benefits from GM?

From research to commercialisation, creating new GM plants is a time-consuming process. Image: Espion/iStockphoto

All the GM crops grown around the world at the moment have been developed by large, multinational companies. This makes many people wary, as they think the companies are more concerned about making a profit than about investing in the right technology to benefit farmers and consumers. Critics argue that money spent on GM would be better spent elsewhere – on less risky and more effective technologies.

Why have big companies dominated GM technology to date?

It'll cost ya

The development of a new GM crop can cost up to $10 million.

Developing genetically modified plants is pricey. Highly trained scientists have to work with expensive equipment for many years before they identify the right genes to transfer into crops. After this, lengthy and expensive field trials make sure the new crops do what the scientists predict.

Regulations vary from country to country. In Europe governments demand very strict field and food safety regulations. It can take more than ten years to get crops approved for growing and eating – and time costs money.

Getting your money back

Biotechnology companies protect new GM crops using patents. Image: Simon A Webber/iStockphoto

Only big companies and large research centres can afford to spend enough money and resources on developing crops that cannot be sold for many years.

But even they would not be able to do the work if they did not make back the money they invested.

Companies do this by patenting genes or new crops. A patent means that other people cannot benefit from the technology without paying a fee to the company.

Patently ridiculous?

Farmers can’t reuse GM seeds without facing legal action. Image: Chris Reed/iStockphoto

What does the patent system mean for farmers?

When farmers buy genetically modified seeds from companies, they sign a contract promising they will not save any seeds from their crops for planting the following year, unless they pay a fee. These arrangements are strictly enforced, and some farmers have been fined heavily for breaking their contracts.

So how does this differ from non-GM crops?

Same old story

Bags of seed ready for distribution. Image: CIMMYT

Patents give companies a lot of power, and many people use this as an argument against GM. However, seeds from conventionally bred plants that most farmers grow often aren't used in following years either. This is because the bought seeds produce identical plants, but when these plants breed together they produce different characteristics in the next generation. The farmer gets a haphazard mixture of plants of different shapes, sizes and qualities.

So many farmers buy new seeds every year, whether they grow GM or conventionally bred crops.

Saving seed

Saving seeds is essential for farmers in the developing world. Image: IRRI

However, small farmers in developing countries do save and reuse their seeds to cut costs. So because the patents mean that GM seeds cannot be saved, this makes them too expensive for some to afford.

GM critics claim that the technology isn't appropriate for these small farmers because it doesn't allow them to gather seeds as they have always done. Buying new seeds each year reduces their profits.

But this situation may be changing...

Where are we going?

The University of Leeds is working with the Ugandan government to develop GM bananas. Image: University of Leeds

Some companies are now involved in research projects which will sell seeds royalty free to small farmers. A number of universities are working on collaborative programmes with scientists in the developing world to create crops that are designed to benefit particular regions. And breakthroughs in the technology mean genetic modification may become quicker, easier and cheaper to do. This may make it more accessible for smaller research groups, rather than just huge agricultural companies.