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News :: Agriculture : Economy : Environment : Health |
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Genetically Engineered DNA Found in Traditional Seeds |
Current rating: 0 |
by Union of Concerned Scientists
(No verified email address) |
24 Feb 2004
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Study Has Implications for Trade, Organic Agriculture,
Human Health |
Washington, D.C.—The Union of Concerned Scientists today released a groundbreaking pilot study that found genetically engineered DNA is contaminating traditional seeds of three major U.S. crops. Seed contamination, if left unchecked, could disrupt agricultural trade, unfairly burden the organic industry, and allow hazardous materials into the food supply.
"This study shatters the presumption that at least one portion of the seed supply-that for traditional varieties of crops-is truly free of genetically engineered elements," said Dr. Margaret Mellon, Director of the Food and Environment Program at UCS and an author of the new study, Gone to Seed: Transgenic Contaminants in the Traditional Seed Supply. "The traditional seed supply is an agricultural treasure that must be preserved. The government should immediately follow up this study to determine the extent of contamination and the steps needed to protect this treasure."
The pilot study by UCS is the first to examine systematically whether genetically engineered (GE) crop varieties now widely adopted in the United States have contaminated the seed supply for crop varieties presumed not to contain GE elements. The seeds tested in the pilot study were for traditional varieties of corn, soybeans, and canola that have no history of genetic engineering. The tests were conducted for UCS by two commercial laboratories employing sensitive techniques capable of detecting specific sequences of DNA.
The degree of concern to attach to seed contamination depends on many factors, including the nature of the genes that are contaminating the seed supply and the levels at which they occur. That information awaits the further, more comprehensive tests recommended by UCS in its report. However, the study released today suggests that contamination is pervasive, especially in canola where one laboratory found six of the six traditional varieties tested contaminated with GE elements.
Most of the specific DNA sequences tested for in the study are found in popular GE varieties currently on the U.S. market. But there is no reason to believe that engineered DNA sequences detected in the study are the only ones moving into the traditional seed supply.
"Until we know otherwise, it is prudent to assume that engineered sequences originating in any crop, whether it was approved and planted commercially or just field tested, could potentially contaminate the seed supply," said Dr. Jane Rissler, a plant pathologist at UCS and the report's co-author. "Among the potential contaminants are genes from crops engineered to produce drugs, plastics, and vaccines."
Serious risks to human health could result if genes from pharmaceutical and industrial crops contaminate the seeds for food crops at a significant level. "Because growers and processors would not be aware of the contaminants, they would inadvertently sell them for food use-a back door to the food supply that must be closed," said Mellon.
The materials needed to detect such genes in molecular tests are not publicly available; therefore, it was not possible for UCS to test seeds for sequences from so-called "pharm crops." However, the report urges prompt action to protect seed production from these sources of contamination.
In addition, seed contamination makes it more difficult for U.S. exporters to assure Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and other export customers that grain and oilseed shipments do not contain unapproved GE crop varieties and to supply commodity products free of engineered sequences. Seed contamination also places an unfair burden on organic food production, an increasingly important sector of U.S. agriculture. Organic farmers depend on traditional seed varieties to meet organic standards and consumer demand. The contamination of traditional seeds hampers their ability to find the GE-free seed they need.
The UCS study is too limited to provide a reliable estimate of the levels of contamination across the seed supply. However, the data obtained in the study suggest a range of roughly 0.05 to 1% in the seeds tested. Calculations done as part of Gone to Seed illustrate that even a level as low as 0.1% could translate into hundreds of tons of contaminated corn and soybean seeds inadvertently planted on U.S. farms, or the equivalent of over 55,000 50-pound bags of seed.
"We must confront the reality of seed contamination now," said Rissler. "Not only must we worry about genes in approved varieties but we must be concerned about hundreds of other genes that have been field tested but whose identities are unknown to the public in many instances. Heedlessly allowing the contamination of the seed supply to continue may cause problems which cannot be easily remedied."
"While not completely reversible, with sufficient political will it is possible to look forward to sources of seeds that are substantially free of genetically engineered sequences," Mellon added. "But the government must act now."
UCS recommends eight steps to address seed contamination, including a government-sponsored, full-scale investigation into the extent and causes of seed contamination. The United States Department of Agriculture should also establish a reservoir of non-engineered seeds for major food and feed crops.
The new report is located here:
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/biotechnology/seed_index.html
Formed in 1969 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UCS is a nonprofit partnership of scientists and citizens combining rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical environmental solutions. UCS advocates evaluation of the risks and benefits of and alternatives to agricultural applications of biotechnology.
To set up interviews or for UCS info, contact:
RICH HAYES
202-223-6133
LINDA GUNTER
202-223-6133
© Union of Concerned Scientists |
See also:
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/biotechnology/seed_index.html
http://www.ucsusa.org/
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Copyright by the author. All rights reserved. |
