At the last second, NGOs and I put pressure on Rizal Ramli to call it off, Sonny told reporters on 12 September, according to the Jakarta Post report. Sonny explained that health safety of transgenic crops and their effect on the environment was still a major concern and thus it would be advisable for agreements on the cultivation of such crops to be postponed. We have to stick with the precautionary principles over transgenic matters, Sony said, adding that there are still no regulations on transgenic products here. According to Sonny, Rizal initially objected, arguing that the negotiations were already in the final stages. But I told him that it is better to call off the deal than to face problems in the future, Sonny said.
Transgenic technology creates higher quality crops and stocks by inserting genes from other species.
Despite assurances from scientists that the products are harmless, some doubts have been raised as to the safety of GMOs and their effect on health and the environment. These concerns include how quickly biotech plants degrade in the soil and whether the plants can cross-pollinate with weeds or disrupt the ecosystem. Monagro Kimia, have been providing farmers in Bantaeng and Bulukumba regencies, South Sulawesi, with transgenic cotton seeds for the past five months. The transgenic crops are now being harvested after it was planted in a 500-hectare area. The products are exported and some are distributed in local markets.