GE Contamination, The Ticking Time-Bomb

Briefing Genetic Engineering Briefing Pack October 2004 GE CONTAMINATION, THE TICKING TIME-BOMB Releasing GE (genetically engineered, also called GM, genetically modified) organisms into the environment poses special threats to the environment and the food... More

Briefing Genetic Engineering Briefing Pack October 2004 GE CONTAMINATION, THE TICKING TIME-BOMB Releasing GE (genetically engineered, also called GM, genetically modified) organisms into the environment poses special threats to the environment and the food chain. GE crops are living and have the ability to reproduce and multiply. Through crosspollination, the foreign genes they contain can be transferred to other crops and wild species. Genetic contamination can, therefore, magnify over time. GE seeds can also be spilt, mixed with non-GE seed and grown illegally, compounding the problems. GE crops have been grown commercially since 1996, largely in North America. Since that time, there have been a number of episodes of contamination of non-GE crops. Farmers have already suffered economic loss, consumers’ health has been threatened and the integrity of non-GE farming put at stake. Contamination has even arisen from small-scale experimental growing and in one case, Pioneer were f Less