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There are considerable risks involved in the growing and consuming of genetically modified (GM) food crops. The GM technology is imprecise and the transfer of genes between organisms may have unpredictable consequences. Research is beginning to demonstrate that GM crops can have negative impacts on the environment and on human health. Large areas of Europe have declared themselves GMO-free zones. Insurance companies are refusing to insure GM pharmaceutical crop production. Iceland would take a considerable risk by allowing the growing of GM pharmaceutical barley. Regulation on the labelling of GM foods is expected in Iceland soon. These were some of the points that were raised at a well attended conference on GM foods held in Reykjavík on the 1st of March 2005.
GMO-free zones continue to spread
In his introduction the chairman, Mr. Jónas Kristjánsson, reviewed the most recent developments in the world debate on GM food. These include the WTO dispute between the US and the EU on trade in GM food and feed, as well as the considerable mobilization of the Europeans against GM food. The latter is partly reflected in the fact that large regions are now declared GMO free, including the major part of Italy, Austria and Greece, Wales and significant part of South-West England. Moves in the same direction are also evident in North America.
Minister calls for debate - GM labelling
regulation annunciated
In her opening address, the Minister for Environment, Mrs. Sigríður Anna Þórðardóttir, called for an open and unprejudged debate on all aspects of the GM issue. The Minister pointed out that it was hoped GM foods would increase world food supply. “At the same time, we must tread carefully to ensure that their production does not have negative and irreversible impact on human health or the earth´s ecosystem.” The Minister also confirmed that the EU regulation on the labelling of GM products would be ratified in Iceland in the near future.
Homepage on GM opened: www.erfðabreytt.net
The conference witnessed the opening, by a former Prime Minister of Iceland Mr. Steingrímur Hermannsson, of a homepage which provides a range of information useful as a debating forum on GM products and their impacts. Mr. Hermannsson quoted Albert Schweitzer as saying that if man loses his ability to foresee the consequences of his action he will destroy the earth. The effect of decades of pesticide use in agriculture should serve as a warning. By introducing genetic modification we are “intervening the development process in an extremely radical way” and “I would not be surprised that nature would respond”, Mr. Hermannsson remarked and urged for precaution.
Gene technology is very imprecise
The main guest speaker of the conference, professor Carlo Leifert from the University of Newcastle, discussed the potential and proven risks of growing and consuming GM crops. Professor Leifert, who has a professional background in biotechnology and is currently working in the field of agronomy, reminded us that gene scientists do not understand how genes and gene families interact, and gave a visual demonstration on how imprecise and unpredictable gene technology is. He explained that genetic modification is so imprecise that it is impossible to control the number of genes inserted into an organism or where they insert themselves on the DNA. The insertion itself may ‘scramble’ or disrupt the genome of the receiving organism with unforeseeable consequences, and because the inserted genes are ‘switched on’ at full volume in all parts of the plant the modified plant could be ‘genetically unstable’.
Iceland would take a major risk by growing
GM pharmaceutical barley
Professor Leifert described that GM medicine crops are riskier than GM food crops because they produce medicine and stressed that they therefore must not contaminate the animal feed or human food supply. He pointed out that GM barley can cross-pollinate not only with other barley crops but with plants in the wild that are related to barley. Professor Leifert reminded us that barley is related to the grasses, our main crop for livestock grazing and fodder. He also stated that containing GM crops has proven to be impossible and that they escape into the environment. He posed several questions regarding the economic viability of GM medicine barley in Iceland, suggesting that it would be uncompetitive with GM barley grown in Russia or the Ukraine. He warned about potential negative impacts that GM pharmaceutical crop production might have on agricultural exports and the development of tourism. He also raised the question of liability, i.e. who will pay for contamination of the environment or the food chain, the taxpayer, the biotech company or the farmer. Iceland must assess whether it wants to license the commercial growing of GM medicine crops when no other European nation is contemplating it.
Can GM medical barley crossbreed with the
Icelandic lyme grass or ‘melgresi’?
During the panel discussion, professor Kesara A. Jónsson from the University of Iceland stressed the importance of public awareness and knowledge about genetic modification. She said that we cannot turn back and we must do more basic research and employ the benefits of gene technology. Professor Kesara confirmed that cross-breeding of GM plants with other plants was no longer disputed, this may occur even with distant relatives. While the risk of barley cross-breeding would not be great, barley can mix with related types such as lyme grass, which is a common plant used for preventing erosion that grows widely on otherwise deserted areas such as sands. However, the probability of foreign genes becoming active in the lyme grass is not high because of the strength of its genome, unless under considerable environmental stress.
Iceland should be declared a GM-free zone
Dr. Ólafur R. Dýrmundsson, an agricultural advisor from the National Farmers´ Union, expressed concern about the uncertainty and the risks associated with GM crops and warned of dire consequences of such production for the image of Iceland. GM pharm crops should be confined to glasshouses. Contamination caused by GM crops should be compensated for by those who introduce those crops in line with the polluter-pays principle. Debate on GMOs has until now been too one-sided in favour of the biotech industry. Dr. Dýrmundsson proposed that Iceland be declared a GM-free country and suggested that organic agriculture was a viable future alternative.
Gene science in the public interest – not private interest
Several comments and questions were raised during the general discussion. In his closing remarks, professor Carlo Leifert discussed the urgent need to reconsider the funding of scientific activity. Our experience shows that innovations and new technology do not necessarily benefit the human race. Science must be seen to be operating in the public interest – not just the private interest.
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