Posted on 30/11/2001

Wild No More

Halt this reckless experiment now says FOE

Friends of the Earth is calling for an immediate global moratorium on the
growing of GM crops [1] after new research revealed that wild maize in
Mexico has been contaminated with GMOs. The results are revealed in the
science journal Nature .

Researchers in Mexico found that wild maize in a remote area of Mexico was
contaminated with genetically modified (GM) material - despite a moratorium
on growing GM maize since 1998. The source of the GM contamination is
unknown. The remote location of the wild maize strains suggests that
cross-pollination may have taken place over considerable distances. Maize
originates in Mexico. All commercial varieties were originally bred from
this wild stock. The revelation raises concerns about pollution from GM
crop trials in the UK. Of the GM crops currently being tested in the UK
oilseed rape and beet crops have wild relatives [2].

Pete Riley, Real Food Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: These
findings are deeply disturbing and highlight the huge gamble the biotech
industry is taking with nature. The long-term implications of allowing GM
crops to contaminate wild plants are unknown and will be almost impossible
to reverse. This is why Governments around the world should halt the
dangerous experiment of growing GM crops outside."

Notes:

[1] The Biosafety Protocol (or Cartegena Protocol) was signed in Montreal
in 1999 and allows states to control the import of GMOs if their
environment is under threat. Britain has signed - but not yet ratified -
the protocol. The USA, the largest exporter of GM maize for food, animal
feed and seed hasn't even signed it.

[2] Other centres of biodiversity that could be contaminated with GM
materials are the Andes (potatoes), China (soya beans) and Thailand (rice).