29 February 2008 - Global
incidents of genetic contamination from
genetically modified (GM) crops are on the
rise, while the companies responsible
ignore the consequences. Our activists have
highlighted this growing problem by protesting
shipments of illegal GM-rice varieties entering
Europe from the US.
Genetic contamination
occurs when experimental or unapproved GM
crops are mixed with staple food crops.
The 'GM Contamination Register Report 2007',
details 39 new instances of GM contamination
in 23 countries over the past year. Most
of the contamination involved such staple
crops as rice and maize, but also included
soya, cotton, canola, papaya and fish. Since
2005, the GM Contamination Register has
recorded 216 contamination events in 57
countries since GM crops were first grown
commercially on a large scale in 1996.
While companies claim
they can control the use of GM crops, the
reality is very different. In the port of
Rotterdam, Dutch authorities have detected
illegal GM rice strains in shipments of
US rice supposedly declared GM-free when
leaving the US. Right now a GM scandal is
breaking in Kenya as environmental and farmers'
organisations confront the government and
US seed giant Pioneer Hi-Bred with evidence
of GM-contaminated maize seed in their country.
Cost of contamination
Contamination cases
are often complicated but each one has big
implications.
There are numerous examples
where GM crops not approved for human consumption
have contaminated food. Last year, Bayer
was taken to court by US rice farmers for
contamination of rice by an unapproved variety
that was only tested experimentally between
1999-2001. Bayer claims it was an "Act
of God" that caused conventional rice
varieties to become contaminated with experimental
strains. Far from almighty interference,
biotech companies are risking human health
by not preventing contamination.
With such widespread
and common GM contamination, the choice
for consumers to avoid GM foods is being
eroded. If GM genes are escaping control
there's no way to know if it's in the food
you buy or not.
Each case of contamination
has huge related costs - cost for product
recalls, testing and regular checks and
lost markets and exports. In August 2006,
traces of the uncertified GM crop LL601,
known as "Liberty Link" and owned
by biotech giant Bayer, were found in US
rice supplies. With 63 percent of US rice
exports affected, the contamination spread
to at least 30 countries, from Austria to
Ghana to the United Arab Emirates. Major
importers such as the EU and the Philippines
closed their markets to US rice. Up to US$253
million was lost from food product recalls,
and future export losses could reach US$445
million. But here's the rub - costs that
are caused by GM contamination are either
paid by the taxpayer or, as in this case
of Bayer's rice, by farmers and exporters.
The biotech companies often avoid any cost
due to contamination from their GM crops.
Because the big biotech
companies responsible for these crops are
not held liable for the costs of contamination
they have little incentive to prevent incidents.
If they were held responsible for all the
costs of contamination many GM crops would
probably not be profitable.
Why does it happen?
Every contamination
scandal that breaks further damages the
reputation of GM crops and costs farmers
(potential GM crop customers), markets and
exports. Why do the companies allow contamination
to happen? Clearly the biotech companies
must have some powerful reasons not to take
effective measures to prevent contamination.
Certainly contamination allows the biotech
companies to argue that their crops should
not be regulated as they are already in
the food chain. It could be seen as the
thin end of the wedge to gain access to
markets via the back door.
While biotech companies
will probably never admit their true motives
behind genetic contamination, occasionally
an industry representative hints at the
industry strategy:
"The total acreage
devoted to genetically modified crops around
the world is expanding. That may be what
eventually brings the debate to an end.
It is a hell of a thing to say that the
way we win is don't give the consumer a
choice, but that might be it."
As the biotech companies
seem intent on risking farmers' livelihoods
and ignoring health concerns to help spread
GM crop acceptance by default it is vital
that politicians stand firm. Rigorous testing
and holding companies wholly financially
responsible is the only way to ensure an
end to genetic contamination.
