GM Crops: UK Trial a warning to ERMA
By | Oct 9, 2007
Recent reports from a UK trial on the effect of GM crops on the environment are a warning to ERMA that the risks associated with the use of GM crops may outweigh the potential benefits, says the Inter Church Council on Bioethics. The trial demonstrates how essential it is to obtain all relevant data on risks and benefits before granting any approval for the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and to allow only conditional release, which will have to be monitored for its effects on the environment, said Dr Audrey Jarvis, who chairs the Council.
British scientists have just released the findings from a government-sponsored three-year study on the use of GM crops containing genes for herbicide resistance. The report said that in two out of three studies, “farmland wildlife is harmed much more by the extra- powerful weedkillers used with GM crops than by herbicides used with conventional crops”. Dr Jarvis said that the harm caused was not in the technology of GM itself. The harm lay in the use of GM crops in such a way that virtually all other plants were killed by the herbicides. Therefore in these trials, any benefits claimed for the use of GM crops were more than reversed by the harm done to the environment.
She said that the important lesson for ERMA, which assesses GM applications in New Zealand, is that no application for the release of GMOs should be approved until sufficient data is available to assess risks as well as potential benefits. At present, research is under way to investigate effects on the environment, but this will not be available for some time. If no independent reliable information is available to assess an application, then the application must be deferred. It must also be remembered that data used has to be applicable to the New Zealand situation.
She added that in moving from field trials to conditional or full release ERMA will need to pay more attention to the uncertainties in any proposal than it has done in the past. The lesson from the UK study is that it will be essential to continue monitoring of the effect of any GMOs released, and therefore ERMA should regard conditional release, with monitoring, as the only acceptable release at this time.
The disturbing data from the UK trials shows that similar work will need to be done in other areas, e.g. the effect of insecticide-resistant GMOs on the environment. Research is already under way in NZ, but as each case is assessed on its merits, no release of GMOs should be allowed until there is enough information for a good decision to be made.
Users
“Would to God that all the Lord's people were Prophets.” Num. 11:29
Join in and add to the JUSTwiki today. Stories, reflection, news, comment. Be heard. Be just.
Hikoi of Hope: Walking On – Introduction
If there were a national referendum on changing the voting system, would you...
Submit a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.