b)Prior integration risk :since their appearance, GMOs have seg-
mented the market. This segmenting presents the farmer with two
difficulties, namely, guaranteeing prospect markets that are more
and more difficult, and respecting closely rigorous specifications. As
a consequence, this may almost lead to a unique network. The
farmer will then be obliged to multiply his/her production and
delivery contracts for many years, running the risk of disappearing
from the market.^8 It is worth noticing that demands connected to
GMO exploitation will no doubt lead to more specialisation and
technicality in the production and agricultural transformation sectors.
c)Appropriation risk and management of genes of interest :a growing
number of international texts recognise the right to issue patents
over living beings.^9 Private firms that lead the production of GMOs
fear the appropriation of genes used in their production work. The
latter will become unavoidable for seeds firms and farmers.
d) Agricultural risks : agricultural risks associated with GMOs are not
objects of great debates ; yet they should not be neglected. These
risks include, among others, the appearance of problematic weeds
because of cross-breedingof a GMO with a related wild plant, the
growing again of plantsresistingto one or more herbicides– which
might considerably hinder the weak killing of the following culti-
vation, unexpected resistancesdeveloped by devastators exposed
permanently to toxic substances produced by GMOs.
e) Human health risks :the problem of human health is still on the
table. If some people find that GMOs present a potential danger to
human health, others see in them no real danger. They think that
the risk evaluation of consuming GMOs by human beings is still
theoretical as there is not any evidence about their recent con-
sumption. It is worth reminding scientists that the zero risk is
nearly nonexistent. In terms of potential risks, the following can be
cited. Toxic risks : the integration of a new gene into a living organ-
ism may provoke the expression of one or more ineffective genes at
the normal state. This expression caused by the transgene may both
lead to the production of new toxins, or increase the production of
toxins that were produced naturally in insignificant quantity. Some
toxins exist at a natural state and are produced in non-toxic quan-
tity. These include potato’s solanine, tomato’s tomatine, or colza’s
erucique acid. Though the risk is minimal, it may prove real and no
one knows its consequences, at least up to now. Risk of allergy :
cross-reactions may threaten people who are allergic to certain food.
In fact, a person eating a potato in which a tomato gene has been
introduced may develop an allergy to that gene and not being able
to link his/her allergy to the tomato. We have to recognise that these
risks of allergy already exist apart from GMOs.
300 Responsible Leadership : Global Perspectives