WESTCOUNTRY ORGANICS LTD
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WESTCOUNTRY ORGANICS LTD |
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| Gene transfer "superweed" fears confirmed | |
| The first officially confirmed case of
gene transferrence has been reported in Canada. This throws into doubt of one
of the claims made by biotechnology firms that their discoveries can reduce the
amount of herbicides used. It also raises the spectre of so called "superweeds"
resistant to many commonly used herbicides. Three varieties of genetically modified rapeseed were grown in Canada by a farmer in Alberta in 1997, each resistant to a type of herbicide. It has now been found that weeds growing near the plots are resistant to all 3 types of herbicide. These weeds can only now be controlled using more toxic herbicides. The rapeseed varieties in question were, ironically, claimed to be a way of reducing herbicide use. The varieties designed to be resistant to a particular herbicide would allow earlier spraying with herbicides. These developments have meant that rather than reducing herbicide use earlier fears of "superweeds" (and the use of more toxic chemicals) may prove to be well founded. Gene transferrence between genetically modified and native species also raises questions about the overall impact of releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment. The results will no doubt increase debate around the safety of the current "farm scale trials" in the UK. |
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