See An Taisce's submission to the 'National Strategy for Best practice of co-existence of GM crops with conventional and organic farming', 2005

 

See An Taisce's request to the Department of the Environment for 'Safeguard clauses for genetically modified foods and crops' here

 

 

Every plant and animal is made up of cells, each of which has a nucleus, inside of which are strings of DNA.  This DNA contains all the essential information for the structure and function of an organism. Genes are sequences of DNA, each gene coding for a particular characteristic. 

 

 Now this is a very simplified breakdown of very complex structures and processes, genes operate in complex networks, no gene operating in isolation.  The functioning of any given gene is dependant on all the other genes in its ‘family’ or group of genes, and the function of any family of genes can effect the function of genes in other groups and networks of genes.  The functioning of genes is also “totally dependant on the environment in which they find themselves” (Barbara Mc Clintock, Nobel Prize Winner in 1983 for genetic work).  

 

Crops and animals have been selectively bred since the dawn of civilization.  Farm animals and food crops used today bear little resemblance to their ‘wild’ ancestors.  This has been achieved through millennia of exploiting the multitude of genetic traits that exist naturally within a species. 

 

Potatoes can successfully interbreed with other varieties of potato, and sheep with other varieties of sheep, but nature does not allow the successful breeding across different species. 

 

Genetic Engineering and Genetic modification (GM) however, normally involvesthe isolation, manipulation and reintroduction of DNA into cells of another species.  The aim is to introduce new characteristics, such as introducing the gene which codes for the production of a chemical with antifreeze properties from an arctic fish, into a strawberry in order to make the strawberry able to resist a frost.  Similarly a crop can be engineered that is resistant to a particular herbicide, have a more even shape, or that produces a new protein or enzyme.

 

The technology is relatively new.  The first genetically engineered drug was human insulin, approved in 1982. Insulin is manufactured under controlled laboratory conditions where escape of the modified genes is very unlikely.

 

Current understanding of the way in which genes operate and are regulated is very limited.  When a new gene is introduced to an organism is not possible to predict, or control, how it may change the function of other genes or groups of genes in an organism.  New toxins or allergens can be produced which can, and have, gone undetected.  Nutritional values are altered.  New proteins that other organisms further up the food-chain cannot cope with have been produced.  While these unexpected mutations are too lengthy and complex to list here, find out more through the links and references at the bottom of this section.  

However, much work is being carried out globally to modify a range of crops in order to introduce new traits, such as resistance to a particular pest or the addition of a ‘missing’ ingredient. Claims are widely made that GM crops will enable us to feed the world’s growing population and end hunger. However results so far have shown that this is far from the truth.

 

The majority of GM crops are engineered to be Glyphosate resistant, which means the plants won't die when the herbicide ROUNDUP is applied.  In several countries GM crops are grown on a big scale for some years by now. While the companies involved are claiming unlimited success, independent research has already identified many negative impacts.

 

 

The biggest problem with releasing GM plants into the environment lies in the fact that those organisms can never be recalled. Once released nothing can control their development, their mutations, their invasion of "unimproved" plants, or multitude of opportunities for the cross fertilisation with regular crops. The potential consequences for biodiversity are far reaching. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To date very little research has been carried out on the impacts of releasing Genetially Engineered crops in to the environment. 

 

Research on impacts of GM herbicide tolerant spring crops on farmland Biodiversity, carried out on more than 200 plots in the UK, has demonstrated worrying trends.  Bees and butterflies were found to be fewer in the GM fields, as low as 68% less abundant in GM fields than in fields of conventionally grown crops. The field margins of GM crops were also found contain significantly reduced biodiversity.  Other complex ecological relationships were found to be much impacted by the GM crops, such as a reduction in a range of pollinators and other beneficial invertebrates. 

 

For more details on these trials, see http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMCHW.php

 

Proponents claim that GM crops substantially reduce pesticide use, but new evidence shows otherwise (see http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMCIPU.php)

 

The scientific journal Nature published research as far back as 1999 showing how the caterpillars of the Monarch butterfly in the UK suffered from retarded growth and increased mortality after eating leaves with pollen from a widely grown variety of genetically engineered maize. 

 

Most of the Biotech industry focus in genetic engineering is based on herbicide resistance.  The engineered crop is developed with a resistance to a particular herbicide, often produced by the same company that has developed the crop, so that the fields with the engineered crop can be heavily sprayed with the herbicide to kill off all other plants. This obviously has major knock on impacts in the environment, for example in herbicide residues in soil and water, and to wild flora and fauna in the landscape.  The clearance of huge fields and tracts of land with powerful herbicides produces farmland devoid of wildlife, spelling disaster for already declining bird and other wildlife populations. 

 

In addition, crop weeds in time develop resistance to the herbicide, producing ‘super weeds’ that require higher levels of herbicide to kill them and new and different herbicides to which they have not developed a resistance.  Many of these are more expensive and environmentally more damaging.  Reports from the  USA, where GM crops are grown at a large scale, are showing an increasing development of resistant weeds which cannot be controlled with Roundup, the world’s best selling weed-killer produced by the chemical corporation Monsanto. 

The precautionary principle states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action. The precautionary principle is a working legal concept in the European Union.  According to a report produced for the European Parliament “our current knowledge does not provide us with the means to predict the ecological long-term effects of releasing organisms in to the environment”. 

 

Genetically Engineered crops strengthen the control of multinationals over our agricultural sector and thus weaken food security by increasing farmers dependence on international seed and chemical supply, and decreasing the genetic diversity of and hence crop resistance to unforeseen factors such as drought and disease, despite said afforts of the companies develping GM technologies to breed crops resistance to specific risks.

Genetic engineering involves the intensification of agricultural production, in a way that contravenes the approach of CAP reform, and further threatens traditional mixed agricultural holdings.  Consumer preferences are also a major issue, with official opinion polls published by the European Commission showing that 70.9 percent of EU citizens do not want GM (genetically modified) food (see europa.eu.int/comm./research/press/2001/pr0612en-report.pdf)

 

Ireland takes pride, and indeed economic benefits, in our green image.  This would be maintained and much enhanced by a moratorium on GM agriculture pending further investigastion of the safety of the release of GMO's in to the environment.  Failing this our agricultural exports are likely to be seriously affected.  

 

The Government must develop responsible polices and legislation on this matter, taking in the interests of human health and the environment.  In order to do this and move toward a more secure and sustainable future for Ireland, we must take a positive step forward  by making Ireland a GM free zone.  This will not only protect the interests of the agricultural community and maintain quality of produce, but will also protect the health of consumers, wildlife, and the environment, and safeguard the integrity of our biodiversity from these threats.

 

A similar opportunity was missed when Ireland refused our option to go down the organic route in the 1990’s.  Though the consequences of this are considerably less grave than the GM issue, the economic losses of these decisions are now well recognised.

 

As signatories to the UN Biosafety protocol we can invoke the Precautionary principle in the light of scientific uncertainty regarding GM food and crops.  An Taisce urge the Department to act in the long term interests of producers, consumers, and our natural heritage by placing a moratorium on GM seeds and crops in Ireland, at least until a time in the future when the scientific facts are fully available and enable a more informed and considered approach.

 

It is also imperative thet legislation be introduced covering the use, traceability and labelling of GMOs and products and feeds containing GMOs.  Such legislation must again be designed to protect the health of both citizens and the environment.  At present European legislation covering GM feed is lacking, thus it is of the utmost importance that the government act without delay.  

 

It will then be possible to launch an education campaign regarding Ireland’s moratorium on GM crops, and the adoption of legislation regarding labelling of GM foods and feed, targeting both the Irish public and foreign consumers.

 

To allow Genetically Engineered crops to be grown on the Island of Ireland at this point in time is highly irresponsible, and flies in the face of the precautionary principle.  It would likely damage Ireland’s green image and undermine our agricultural sector.   It poses a great threat to Ireland’s biodiversity and natural heritage.  Until such a time when risks of this very new technology are further understood, it must not be permitted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information see:

http://www.gmfreeireland.org/