GMW: New Study Reveals Thousands of Field Tests of Genetically Engineered Crops

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GMW: New Study Reveals Thousands of Field Tests of

Genetically Engineered Crops Across U.S.

" GM WATCH " <info

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 10:50:43 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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The full report, Raising Risk: Field Testing of Genetically Engineered

Crops in the U.S., is available at www.mofga.org or

www.environmentmaine.org

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http://environmentmaine.org/envmaine.asp?id2=18660

New Study Reveals Thousands of Field Tests of Genetically Engineered

Crops Across U.S.

 

375 Tests Conducted in Maine

 

Experiments a Threat to Public Health, the Environment, and Farmers

 

PORTLAND - More than 47,000 field tests of genetically engineered crops

were authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture between 1987 and

2004 despite serious environmental threats and inadequate regulations

in place to monitor their impacts, according to a new report released

today by Environment Maine Research & Policy Center and Maine Organic

Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). Three hundred seventy-five of

these tests were conducted in Maine, mostly for genetically engineered

potatoes.

 

Both the National Academy of Sciences and the General Accounting Office

have criticized the USDA for inadequate oversight and expertise in

authorizing the release of genetically engineered crops.

 

Nevertheless, this new study reveals substantial increases in 2003 and

2004 of testing of crops engineered to produce pharmaceutical and

industrial chemicals, as well as of many new crops never before released.

 

*The report, Raising Risk: Field Testing of Genetically Engineered

Crops in the U.S., highlights potential risks associated with the release

of genetically engineered plants. The results of large scale field

trials conducted over many years were just published in the March 2005

Proceedings of the Royal Society demonstrating adverse effects on

wildlife,

but experiments conducted in the United States continue to be piecemeal

and short term. Scientists have criticized research in this country as

deliberately designed to hide any harm.

 

Coincidentally, this report is released on the heels of three Maine

towns, Kennebunk, Brooklin and Kennebunkport considering opposition to

genetically engineered organisms. Kennebunk selectmen rejected a petition

from citizens to place a ban on genetically engineered organisms,

Brooklin citizens voted in favor of a non-enforceable measure to declare

their town a GE Free Zone, and Kennebunkport is considering a measure

identical to Brooklin.

 

" Our environment is being used as a laboratory for widespread

experimentation on genetically engineered organisms with profound

risks that,

once released, can never be recalled, " said Environment Maine Advocate

Matthew Davis. " Bt corn plants have been found to be toxic to monarch

butterflies and other non-target species. Until proper safeguards are in

place, this unchecked experiment should stop. "

 

Findings of the new Environment Maine Research & Policy Center report

include:

 

*As of January 2005, the fourteen states and territories that have

hosted the greatest number of field test sites are: Hawaii (5,413),

Illinois (5,092), Iowa (4,659), Puerto Rico (3,483), California (1,964),

Nebraska (1,960), Pennsylvania (1,707), Minnesota (1,701), Texas (1,494),

Indiana (1,489), Idaho (1,272), Wisconsin (1,246), Georgia (1,051), and

Mississippi (1,008).

 

*Since 1991, USDA has received 240 requests for 418 field releases of

crops engineered to produce pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, or

other so-called biopharmaceuticals; the number of requested field

releases of " biopharm " crops increased from 22 in 2003 to 55 in 2004.

 

*Nearly 70% of all field tests conducted in the last year now contain

secret genes classified as " Confidential Business Information " , which

means that the public has no access to information about experiments

being conducted in their communities.

 

*The ten crops authorized for the greatest number of field releases are

corn, soybean, cotton, potato, tomato, wheat, creeping bentgrass,

alfalfa, beet, and rice. Potatoes have had 143 field releases in Maine .

 

*USDA authorized field tests on several crops for the first time in

2003 and 2004, including American chestnut, American elm, avocado,

banana,

eucalyptus, marigold, safflower, sorghum, and sugarbeet.

 

*These experimental genetically engineered crops are grown in the open

environment to test the outcome and environmental impact of certain

gene combinations. The groups charged that field testing genetically

engineered crops in such a widespread way poses serious threats to the

environment and neighboring farmers.

 

" For over a decade, MOFGA has called for the preparation of an

Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy

Act

prior to any field testing or field release of GE plants or other

organisms. We're still waiting, " said Sharon Tisher, Chair of the

MOFGA Public

Policy Committee. " Not only the distinguished National Academy of

Sciences, but also the staff of the U.S. Department of the Interior, have

raised serious questions about the risk of GE crops and animals becoming

harmful invasive species. Also, GE crops that present a risk of genetic

contamination of organic crops are a direct economic threat to

certified organic farms. "

 

A major goal of the field tests is to obtain information about

potential ecological risks associated with genetically engineered

organisms.

However, independent reviews of the data collected by the USDA

demonstrate that very little information has been gathered. As a

result, despite

the large number of field experiments that have occurred, fundamental

questions about their impact remain unanswered, including long-term

impacts on the soil and non-target species.

 

" The evidence continues to mount that the U.S. regulatory system is

based on the principle of " don't look, don't find, " said Davis.

" Conducting field tests that are poorly designed is taking large risks

without

any benefits. "

 

Environment Maine Research & Policy Center and MOFGA called for a

federal moratorium on genetically engineered foods unless:

* Independent testing demonstrates safety,

* Labeling for any products commercialized honors consumers & rsquo;

right to know, and

* The biotechnology corporations are held accountable for any harm

resulting from the products.

 

Environment Maine Research & Policy Center researches problems,

proposes policy solutions and educates the public about clean air,

clean water

and open spaces.

 

MOFGA's mission is to help farmers and gardeners grow organic food, to

protect the environment, and to recycle natural resources; to increase

local food production, to support rural communities, and to encourage

sustainable farm economies; and to illuminate for consumers the

connections between healthful food, environmentally sound farming

practices,

and vital local economies.

 

 

 

 

 

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