GM crops

Current intensive farming practices rely on the use of artificial chemicals and, unlike organic farming methods, inflict significant environmental damage. Genetic engineering represents an escalation of these intensive farming practices. It threatens the environment and potentially human health and will contaminate non-GM and organic crops.

Of the 40 million hectares of genetically engineered (GE) crops grown throughout the world in 1998, 22% (8.8 million hectares) were varieties developed to be resistant to insects 1 . Most such crops are created by inserting a synthetic version of a gene from the naturally occurring soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), so that the plants produce their own Bt toxins to destroy pests. Insect resistant Bt maize, cotton and potatoes have already been grown extensively on a commercial scale, particularly in the USA, and many other Bt crops are under development (e.g.

Any of the genetically engineered (GE) crops which are already being grown on a commercial scale contain genes which are resistant to antibiotics used for the treatment of diseases in both humans and animals. These genes are unnecessary to the development of the GE plants themselves and could severely undermine the effective treatment of diseases if the antibiotic resistance is transferred to bacteria which are harmful to human and animal health.

Conventional rape seed (canola) from Canada sold by Advanta has become contaminated with Monsanto Roundup Ready Rape. The contamination happened by cross-pollination to a batch of conventional hybrid rapeseed sold as Hyola 38, Hyola 330 and Hyola 401. The GM variety is Monsanto's RT73 (also known as GT73) and resistant to Monsanto's weedkiller 'Roundup'.

Over half the soya and a quarter of the maize grown in the United States is genetically modified (GM). While some of the crops are destined for human consumption, the majority are fed to the animals that provide our meat and dairy products. In fact, around 90% of world soya bean production is used for animal feed.

Market place will reject GM wine