-Caveat Lector-
SOIL ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL: 0001hrs Tuesday 2 March 1999
Government advice on genetic contamination challenged by new independent
report
Evidence that pollen from genetically modified crops can cause
contamination over considerable distances has emerged in a new report.
‘The Dispersal of Maize Pollen’ by Dr Jean Emberlin, Director of the
National Pollen Research Unit (1), was commissioned by the Soil
Association to establish hard scientific data on the risks posed to the
integrity of organically grown maize and sweetcorn from
cross-pollination by genetically modified crops.
Last summer Environment Minister, Michael Meacher, refused to order the
destruction of a crop of genetically modified (GM) maize bordering a
Soil Association registered organic farm in Devon and claimed that
“there were no grounds for halting the field trials as it will not
interfere with the sweetcorn crop being grown on a nearby farm”(2). The
Soil Association regrettably had to inform the farmer that the organic
status of his sweetcorn would have to be removed if there was any
evidence of contamination from the GM maize(3,4).
The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), the
Government’s statutory advisors on the release of genetically engineered
crops into the environment, stated that “at a standard separation
distance of 200 metres between the organic sweetcorn and the GM maize
the likely cross-pollination frequency would result in no greater than 1
sweetcorn kernel in every 40,000 being a GM hybrid”(5). However, Dr Jean
Emberlin, having looked at all the research available, concluded that
“in conditions of moderate wind speeds the
rates of cross-pollination at 200 metres would be in the order of 1
kernel in 93.”
Evidence is cited in Dr Emberlin’s report that maize pollen is collected
by bees in notable amounts. In this way the pollen is transported
several miles from the crop plot in suitable weather conditions. In the
case of the organic farmer in Devon, ACRE failed even to consider
cross-pollination of the organic sweetcorn by bees, even though there
are several hives adjacent to the test plot.
ACRE also brushed aside concerns about freak weather conditions by
saying that ”this was generally taken into account with seed
certification standards and there was at least 200 metres from the
nearest GM maize to the organic farm”(6).
However the report states that: “Substantial evidence exists for long
range transport of considerable numbers of pollen grains….Maize pollen
remains viable under normal conditions for approximately 24 hours giving
potential for pollination by grains that had travelled many hundreds of
kilometres on the airflow….Overall it is clear that the maize pollen
spreads far beyond the 200 metres cited in several reports as being an
acceptable separation distance to prevent cross-pollination.”
This new report undermines confidence in the advice given to the
Government by ACRE who have so far given permission to trial GE crops at
over 500 sites around the country. At least 8 members of ACRE have
direct links with biotech research, and 6 members are involved with
companies that have been given permission by ACRE to conduct these
trials. The Soil Association believes that the apparent failure of ACRE
to give impartial advice on the likelihood of cross-pollination
threatens to remove choice from those who want to avoid GM
contamination.
Agriculture Minister, Nick Brown, has recently stated that ”The
Government is absolutely committed to making sure that those who do not
want to eat crops that have been cross-contaminated (with GMO
ingredients), or to have their crops cross-contaminated (with GMO
pollen), have their rights in this protected as well”(7).
Food Safety Minster, Jeff Rooker, has also repeated this promise, “The
Government is about in April to double the aid to persuade farmers to
convert to organic production. We’re not going to allow that public
money to be put at risk by a cross-contamination of GM crops when they
are grown.”(8)
The Soil Association is calling on the Government to honour these
pledges and provide a response to this report with the utmost urgency in
order to avoid potential cross-pollination from GE trial plots due to be
planted in 1999.
The Soil Association believes that it is not good enough for the biotech
industry to be allowed to introduce these crops under a voluntary code
of practice that fails to take cross-pollination of organic crops into
account(9).
Patrick Holden, Soil Association Director, said, “The only way that the
Government can fulfil its promise to protect organic farmers (and indeed
conventional farmers) who wish to provide a GM-free choice for consumers
is through a ban on the growing of genetically engineered maize. This
report demonstrates that farmers who are attempting to grow GM-free
crops will find it increasingly difficult to supply consumers with the
GM-free food products that they are demanding.”
For further information please contact:
Dr Jean Emberlin 01905 748066
National Pollen Research Unit
Patrick Holden 0117 9142443
Director, Soil Association
Harry Hadaway 0117 9142449
Soil Association, Campaigns Office
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"The virtual transcendence of man, as distinct from his mortal body,
evaporates with the advance of genetic engineering. Determination (or
rather indeterminacy) becomes immanent in the mapping of the genome, and
it's manipulation. Can we still speak of souls and consciousness in
refering to the automata, chimeras and clones we envision carrying on
the human species? Can we even speak of the unconscious, given the
prospect of man coming to be defined genetically? "
-Jean Baudrillard
'The Illusion of
the End'
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