So. What does your garden grow?
In 1973 scientists discovered a way to splice genetic code into a cell’s DNA. This meant that whole new families of plants and animals could be designed; good characteristics could be taken from one species and inserted into another species. For the first time in history men where not limited to selective breeding and evolution to generate new crops. This tremendous potential brought eager investors, seeing the enormous profits that could be made when a new “super crop” went to work feeding the world.
After 30 years we may have learned how little we really know. Gene splicing turns out to be much more difficult than it looks. One scientist said that accurately extracting a gene from DNA can be done, but attaching it to the target DNA is like doing heart surgery with a shovel (Bergelson 1998). They have found that their products often have inconsistent traits, sometimes they can’t be reproduced in volume or they are completely sterile. Strangely enough, conventional plant genetics is much more productive, making new varieties for a tenth or hundredth the cost of a GE (genetically engineered) variety.
Amid the industries successes and failures there are now several gmo (genetically modified organism) crops being planted in the US and around the world. Monsanto has been one of the most aggressive at marketing their BT and RoundUp Ready gmo products and prosecuting those who infringe their patents.
BT (Bacillus thuringiensis.) is a bacterium that produces a chemical that kills insects. Organic farmers have used it for many years to protect their crops safely without man-made poisons. BT crops produce this insecticide without the bacterium. They have the potential of reducing the amount of insecticides used. They have recently come under fire though for killing helpful and non-target insects like the Monarch butterfly, which doesn’t harm corn but does lay eggs on the milkweed that often grows in cornfields.
RoundUp ready (Glufosinate tolerant) crops have a gene that makes them less sensitive to Monsanto’s herbicide, RoundUp, allowing heavier applications of the herbicide. When farmers buy these seeds they are under contractual obligation to apply Roundup at specific times and amounts. They are, of course, forbidden from saving their seeds for next years crop. Approximately 80% of the corn planted this year is of the RoundUp ready variety. While it is not allowed for human consumption it can be, and is, used in feedlots to fatten the beef we eat. The cattle may also be receiving recombinant bovine growth hormone (a hormone produced by genetically modified organisms) to increase their rate of growth. Unfortunately it also affects the level of antibiotics in their systems and their white blood cell count Fox-BGH lawsuit.
Our government has taken a supporting role to the science. Hoping the promises of gmo’s will come true; the government has approved the release of plants without long term testing of either the effect on the environment or the consuming public. They have not required labeling food crops that contain gmo’s (which a survey showed that 97% of the public supported). In Europe, where gmo’s are called frankenfoods, any products with more than ½ % genetically modified ingredients must be labeled .
The UN recently sent StarLink corn, which is banned from human consumption in the US, to drought hit Guatemala, Bolivia and Nicaragua as food aid. No doubt some of it will be planted, where it will compete with, and cross-pollinate native strains (Metz 1997). Mexico has forbidden the importation of gmo corn in an effort to protect the many indigenous varieties from which the Native Americans developed corn. In spite of that, gmo corn has been found in rural areas far from any intentionally planted gmo field. When gmo corn was originally released it was thought that it could not spread more than six feet from the plant. That has been extended to 200 yards from the plant.
Once a new life form is released it cannot be put back into the bottle, and it is impossible to do thorough testing to predict the effects of introducing a new species on a specific ecosystem. What genes can be passed on to wild plants? What plant / animal interactions would be affected. Will the new species bring potential susceptibility to diseases or interfere with soil microorganisms(Saxena, D., Flores, S., Stotzky, G., 1999. Transgenic plants: Insecticidal toxin in root exudates from Bt corn. Nature 402, 480)?
There is one more aspect to genetic engineering that is troubling. When a company can change one of the thousands of genes in a plant or animal’s DNA and patent it, there is suddenly a huge potential for profit. Farmers can no longer legally save seed from one year to the next. They can no longer raise a calf without paying a license fee to the company that developed the breed. Some companies are searching the world buying up seed banks of antique and heirloom seeds to establish their ownership of those genetic strains. The tremendous value of seeds from the corns of Mexico to the potatoes of Chile will only come to light when the weakness of the monoculture system is revealed. A single epidemic could leave our farmers without a crop. Then the owner of the resistant varieties, plants that have evolved over the centuries, will be in a position of tremendous leverage.
Investors want to see a profit and corporations are pouring more and more money into genetic engineering. Do we know better than a million years of evolution? Or will we trip over our good intentions while opening Pandora’s box?
Corn, cotton, canola and soy are the most commonly found gmo products in processed foods. Summer squash has been approved but not yet planted. Potatoes and tomatoes have been planted but have been withdrawn from the market. The following links offer much more information on the current state of gmo’s, where they are in your grocery store and how to avoid them. There are also sources for heirloom seeds, for your garden, as well as natural BT.
Supporting an industry that pedals genetically engineered foods to us without our consent is not in the best interest of our health or our environment.
Sierra Club Biotech Page
Club Seeks Halt to Genetically Engineered Crops
Genetic Engineering at a Historic Crossroads
Mother’s for natural law
True food network
Organic Consumers Association
For some unslanted science gm news try:
http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/gm/
