- Scientific evidence shows that GM oilseed rape is expected
to cross with five wild British plants, probably creating "superweeds"
which are resistant to herbicides.
-
- Maps produced yesterday to show the distribution of five
wild species demonstrate that GM oilseed rape grown almost anywhere in
the UK would contaminate native plants.
-
- With the government decision on whether to introduce
GM crops expected later this year, there is growing evidence it would have
an irreversible affect on British wild plants.
-
- Scientists are concerned that growing GM oilseed rape
in the UK could lead to herbicide-tolerant genes and other traits escaping
into the wild plant relatives. If this happens, it could lead to herbicide-tolerant
"superweeds".
-
- The government's wildlife adviser, English Nature, is
also concerned about cross-pollination. Pure wild species can be vital
when plant breeders need to create new varieties.
-
- Government GM science advisers, the advisory committee
on releases to the environment (Acre), have identified five wild plant
species found in the UK for which there is scientific evidence that hybrids
could be formed with oilseed rape. The list was confirmed by the European
environment agency which concluded that "the risk of hybridisation
is high".
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- These are wild turnip, hoary mustard, wild radish, brown
mustard, and wild cabbage.
-
- Friends of the Earth has mapped out where these five
wild plants occur in the UK. In many places all five are found, showing
that cross-contamination could happen quickly.
-
- Last month, a study at Lille University in France warned
that GM material can be spread over long distances by farm vehicles or
by shoes. Such findings undermine the government's belief that GM contamination
can be avoided by leaving a small distance between GM and conventional
crops.
-
- A further blow is likely to emerge tomorrow when one
of the three government studies into the GM issue will reportedly state
there is no economic benefits to the UK, a big blow to claims by the prime
minister and environment secretary Margaret Beckett.
-
- Recent research showed high levels of cross-pollination
between GM oilseed rape and wild turnip growing in the same GM experimental
plot in Humberside. In one field, 46% of seeds in a wild turnip plant were
found to be GM.
-
- Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner, Pete Riley, said:
"The long-term consequences of this are difficult to predict. The
government must not allow the biotech industry to experiment with the UK's
environment."
-
- He said that one danger was losing valuable traits in
wild crops that farmers might need. Where high-yield crops have been developed
of all one type they can be devastated by disease. Wild varieties, with
natural resistance, can be used to cross-breed for a defence against the
new pest. This might not be possible if GM genes were present, he said.
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2003
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,995184,00.html
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