Greenpeace expressed concern over a report published in New Scientist today (18th November 1999) that shows GM crops can produce unpredictable side effects. Research conducted by Bill Vencill of the University of Georgia in the United States, reveals that the stems of Monsanto's herbicide resistant soya beans split in hot climates causing crop losses of up to 40 per cent.
"GM farmers are walking an agricultural tightrope as agrochemical companies gamble with our future. These sorts of unexpected side effects will inevitably come to light as no one knows what the impacts of GM technology will be. The Government has decided to 'pollute first, ask questions later' and continue uncontrolled, open air testing in the meantime. These 'tests' should be stopped and a GM crop ban enforced immediately," said Greenpeace campaigner, Dr Doug Parr.
Vencill conducted the research was conducted after farmers in Georgia alerted him to unexpected crop losses. In conditions where soils reached 45 degrees Celsius, Vencill said "We saw lower heights, yields and weights in the Monsanto beans." The stems of the Monsanto crop also split, which Vencill suspects could be caused by genetic modification of the plant to make it resistant to glyphosate, the herbicide marketed as Roundup by Monsanto.
Concern over GM crops, combined with the complete collapse in international markets has led many farmers to reconsider planting decisions for next year. Only this month, the American Corn Growers Association and other groups said: "...those altering the genetic integrity of natural species bear the burden of proving their interventions will not jeopardize fundamental human values which include respect for life and protecting ecosystems," and called for "our governmental representatives to suspend any further introduction of genetically engineered organisms." (1)
Notes to Editors:
(1) The Pacific Declaration, signed by Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, the American Corn Growers Association, Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the Council for Responsible Genetics, the Edmonds Institute, and the Center for Ethics and Toxics (CETOS).
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