What's Wrong with Genetic Modification?

• Genetically Modified plants contaminate conventionally grown and organic plants and honey.
   

  16 August 2002 - GM trial ruined by rogue gene strain (Guardian, UK)
  15 August 2002 - Rogue GM crops discovered (BBC News)
  15 August 2002 - UK says impurities in Aventis GM trial (Reuters)
  28 June 2002 - Gene-Altered Canola Pollen Can Spread to Other Fields (Wall Street Journal)
  27 June 2002 - GM crops: gene transfer possible through pollen (The Hindu, India)
  9 December 2001 - Genetic pollution (New York Times)
  26 May 2000 - Ministers pressed to destroy GM crops (Guardian UK)
  25 May 2000 - France orders destruction of GM crop (BBC News)
  24 May 2000 - Sweden will destroy GM rapeseed crop (Swedish Board of Agriculture)
  14 January 2000 - Isolation distances for GM crops inadequate (Reuters)
  30 September 1999 - UK has new scare on genetic pollen spreading (Reuters)
  29 September 1999 - GM pollen found miles from trial site (Friends of the Earth)
  19 May 1999 - GM pollen warning to organic farmers (BBC News UK)
  1 Apr 1999 - Perils of far-flung pollen (BBC News UK)
  2 Mar 1999 - GM pollen warning (BBC News UK)
   

• Crops which have been Genetically Modified to resist herbicides encourage the use of larger quantities of herbicide, with the effect that both weeds and beneficial plants are killed indiscriminately. These herbicides are harmful to both the environment and to humans.
   

  29 March 2000 - Farmers using more chemicals, analysis shows (LA Times)
  21 September 1999 - Pesticide safety limit raised 200 times 'to suit GM industry' (Daily Mail UK)
  8 July 1999 - GM farms use more pesticides (Times UK)
  
   

• Crops which have been Genetically Modified to contain their own insecticide, such as Bt, cause insects to become resistant to the insecticide.
   

  4 December 2002 - Corn could make cotton pests Bt resistant (Nature)
  14 January 2000 - Bt Corn insect resistance management announced for 2000 growing season (EPA US)
   

• Genetically Modified plants may crossbreed with wild species to produce "superweeds", which cannot be eliminated using standard herbicides.
   

  10 October 2003 - Study Reveals First Evidence that GM Superweeds Exist (Independent, UK)
  23 June 2003 - 'Superweeds' signal setback for GM crops (Independent, UK)
  10 January 2003 - Roundup-resistant weeds are cropping up (Des Moines Register)
  23 August 2002 - Roundup-resistant weeds add to Monsanto's quotient of woe (CropChoice News)
  5 February 2002 - Government watchdog gives stark warning over GM weeds (FoE)
  5 February 2002 - Rise of GM superweed a disaster for wildlife (Independent, UK)
  26 January 2002 - Modified Crops Could Lead To "Superweeds," Study Suggests (National Geographic)
  23 November 2001 - Glyphosate resistance is showing a worldwide rise (Farmers Weekly)
  6 December 2001 - Volunteer GM canola a problem : farmer (Western Producer)
  12 August 2001 - GM fields spread new superweeds (Sunday Times)
  20 February 2001 - Weed develops Roundup resistance (Indianapolis Star)
  15 February 2001 - Maverick marestail won't be rounded up (Successful Farming)
  9 February 2001 - Superweeds on the march claim (Farming News)
  10 February 2000 - Triple-resistant canola weeds found in Alta. (Western Producer)
  10 November 1999 - Forests in danger from GM super-tree says WWF (Guardian)
  27 Jan 1999 - Superbugs possible from genetically modified food (BBC News UK)
  
   

• The use of Genetically Modified seed encourages dependence by the farmers on a single seed supplier and may involve the purchase of both the seed and herbicide from one supplier. Seed companies impose 'licensing agreements' for the seed which forbid the farmer from replanting seed from one year to the next.
   

  3 December 2002 - Company forbids saving its seeds (Belleville News)
  27 June 1999 - USDA pushing Gene Foods on Third World (Pakistan Observer)
  9 May 1999 - GM Third World warning (BBC News UK)
  28 Feb 1999 - Third World rejects GM (Independent on Sunday UK)

• Toxic compounds such as glyphosate (RoundUp) and Bromoxynil are used on Genetically Modified crops. The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of Bromoxynil despite acknowledging "...serious concerns about developmental risks to infants and children."
   

  25 September 2002 - Studies show Roundup herbicide to be hormone disruptor (CropChoice News)
  12 October 1999 - Glyphosphate [Roundup] may be banned by EU (Channel 4 UK)
  14 May 1998 - EPA Approves use of Bromoxynil on Cotton (Bureau of National Affairs)
   

• The nature of genetic modification and long term effects are not well understood as these products have not been properly tested before being released into the environment. For example, in the USA, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the use of all currently approved Genetically Modified crops based on data supplied by the manufacturers.
   

  4 February 2002 - GM food safety checks inadequate, says report (New Scientist)
  30 May 2000 - Monsanto seeds contain 'rogue' DNA (Scotland on Sunday)
  11 February 2000 - Fraud behind GM food safety claims (Daily Mail UK)
  24 July 1995 - USDA rules Genetically Engineered herbicide-tolerant cotton safe to grow (USDA)
  13 July 1995 - USDA rules Genetically Engineered cotton safe to grow (USDA)
  13 July 1995 - USDA rules Genetically Engineered corn safe to grow (USDA)
  22 June 1995 - USDA rules on Genetically Engineered tomato lines (USDA)
  11 April 1995 - USDA scientists genetically alter seedless grapes (USDA)
  24 March 1995 - USDA rules on Genetically Engineered potato (USDA)
  10 March 1995 - USDA to rule on Genetically Engineered corn (USDA)
  1 March 1995 - USDA to rule on Genetically Engineered corn (USDA)
  29 May 1992 - Statement of Policy : Foods Derived From New Plant Varieties (US Food and Drug Administration)
   

• Genetic material inserted into plants can transfer to animals and humans in the intestinal wall
   

  18 July 2002 - GM crop DNA found in human gut bugs (New Scientist)
  17 July 2002 - Can GM food make your body immune to antibiotics? (Daily Mail, UK)
  17 July 2002 - UK study finds genes from GM crops in human gut (Reuters)
  28 May 2000 - GM genes 'can spread to people and animals' (Independent UK)
   

• Crops which have been Genetically Modified to resist insects kill not just the "target insect" (such as the borer or weevil) but beneficial insects (such as the Monarch butterfly). They also threaten the habitats of other animals, such as birds.
   

  1 December 2000 - Altered Pollen May Harm Monarchs (AP)
  1 September 2000 - GM crops threaten skylarks (Guardian UK)
  20 May 1999 - Pollen From Genetically Altered Corn Threatens Monarch Butterfly, Study Finds (NY Times)
  20 May 1999 - Modified pollen kills threatened butterflies (Independent UK)
  19 May 1999 - GM pollen 'can kill butterflies' (BBC News UK)
   

• Crops which have been Genetically Modified to produce pharmaceuticals can contaminate the food supply.
   

  14 November 2002 - Biotech Firm Mishandled Corn in Iowa (Washington Post)
  13 November 2002 - Soybeans Mixed With Altered Corn; Suspect Crop Stopped From Getting Into Food (Washington Post)
  13 November 2002 - Wake up to a drug-free breakfast (Farmers Weekly)
  13 November 2002 - Reckless USDA Policy Fails to Keep Biopharmaceuticals out of Food Supply (GE Food Alert)
  12 November 2002 - FDA orders destruction of soybeans contaminated with genetically engineered corn (AP)