WESSEX
The following letter was published in the Times (London) 4th September 1998 under the title
'Lower yields' from transgenic crops
From Mr Mark Griffiths
Sir, Michael Hornsby’s report of August 25 on reduced pesticide requirements for Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) herbicide resistant sugar-beet made interesting reading.
Farmers may be able to make immediate savings in pesticide costs, even though it is already known that the transfer of herbicide resistance to weed species will make this technology impotent sooner or later. However, it would be unwise to judge such crops on one aspect of their performance alone.
Monsanto claims that transgenic crops produce higher yields. However, data from sources other than Monsanto, such as Cyanamid (with whom Monsanto is about to merge) and Canadian seed assessment authorities, indicate that some of Monsanto's herbicide-resistant crops are producing lower yields and profits for farmers than unmodified varieties.
These sources also suggest that some GM soya and oilseed products from Monsanto are producing yield losses of up to 20% compared to unmodified varieties, despite the crops being herbicide-resistant.
Greenpeace announced last week that farmers in parts of the former Soviet Union growing Monsanto’s GM "Naturemark" NewLeaf potatoes have been producing yields at half to one third the expected levels. Farmers in Georgia have been pushed into debt as a result.
The poor agronomic performance of these GM products would seem to indicate that biotechnologists may not have control over the knock-on effects of randomly introducing foreign genetic material into crops. Clearly other aspects of plant functioning are being unexpectedly affected. Let the buyer beware.
Sincerely,
MARK GRIFFITHS
(Environment spokesman, Natural Law Party)
75 Fairfield Rd,
Winchester,
Hampshire SO22 6SG
griffiths@writeme.com
September 1.
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