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28 november 2001
wild maize contaminated with
gmos
halt this reckless
experiment now says friends of the earth
Friends of the Earth is calling for an
immediate global moratorium on the growing of
GM crops [1] after new research revealed that
wild maize in Mexico has been contaminated
with GMOs. The results are revealed today in
the science journal Nature.
Researchers in Mexico found that wild
maize in a remote area of Mexico was
contaminated with genetically modified (GM)
material - despite a moratorium on growing GM
maize since 1998. The source of the GM
contamination is unknown. The remote location
of the wild maize strains suggests that
cross-pollination may have taken place over
considerable distances. Maize originates in
Mexico. All commercial varieties were
originally bred from this wild stock.
The revelation raises further concerns
about pollution by GM crops of plants which
have wild relatives, such as oilseed rape and
beet which are indigenous to Europe. Other
centres of biodiversity that could be
contaminated with GM materials are the Andes
(potatoes), China (soya beans) and Thailand
(rice).
Gill Lacroix, Biotechnology Coordinator at
Friends of the Earth Europe, said:
"These findings are deeply disturbing and
highlight the huge gamble the biotech
industry is taking with nature. The
long-term implications of allowing GM crops
to contaminate wild plants are unknown and
will be almost impossible to reverse. This
is why Governments around the world should
halt the dangerous experiment of growing GM
crops outside."
Contact: Gill Lacroix: + 32 (0)2 542 01
82
mob:
+ 32 (0)476 244 161
Notes: [1] The Biosafety Protocol (or
Cartegena Protocol) was signed in Montreal in
1999 and allows states to control the import
of GMOs if their environment is under threat.
However, so far only 6 countries have
ratified the protocol.
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