“Rock star of the eco-movement”, “Monsanto’s nightmare”, “Gandhi of the grain”: Many media are not lacking in superlatives when they report on the Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva. A documentary of her life story has also been shown in German cinemas since December, with the meaningful title: “Vandana Shiva – A Life for the Earth”.

Bt cotton has long been a thorn in activist Shiva’s side. It has been used in its home country of India since the early 2000s and is now used by the majority of farmers. Shiva blamed Bt cotton and its seed producer Monsanto for the suicide of hundreds of thousands of farmers because Bt cotton had bankrupted them financially. However, there is no empirical evidence for this accusation – in addition, the suicide rate among small holders has remained constant after the introduction of Bt cotton .

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Shiva also made a connection between autism, the use of GMOs and the herbicide glyphosate – although there is no scientific evidence for this either. According to the Max Planck Institute, the influence of environmental factors also plays a subordinate role in autism.

The discussion about genetic engineering is often less about facts and more about world views, says social psychologist Pia Lamberty, managing director of the Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (CeMAS). “Genetic engineering is a topic that can trigger fears. These are extremely complex processes that many people don’t really understand. And then it’s often just a matter of gut feeling.” 

[Editor’s note: This article has been translated from German and edited for clarity.]

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