New maps reveal massive extent of GM pollution threat

Allowing GM oil seed rape to be commercially grown in the Wales will almost certainly lead to widespread GM contamination, new maps published today by Friends of the Earth reveal.

Using UK-wide botanical data [1], Friends of the Earth has mapped out, for the first time, the locations of five of the most closely-related wild plant relatives to oil seed rape (such as wild turnip and wild cabbage) [2,3]. The maps show that these species, which are known to cross pollinate with the arable crop, are widespread across the whole country. If GM oil seed rape is grown practically anywhere in the UK, cross-breeding will be almost inevitable.

Scientists are concerned that allowing GM oilseed rape to be grown in the UK could lead to herbicide tolerant genes and other traits escaping into the wild plant relatives. If this happens, it could lead to the creation of herbicide tolerant 'superweeds', creating weed control problems for farmers and problem weeds in wildlife habitats. Recently published research showed high levels of cross-pollination between GM oilseed rape and wild turnip in a GM experimental plot in Humberside [4].

Oilseed rape pollen can be carried great distances by the wind; low levels of pollen have been detected up to 2.5 km from fields [5]. Bees are very attracted to oilseed rape fields. In Scotland bees from one hive were reported to fly 5 km to get to a rape field, and in research commissioned by Friends of the Earth, bees were found carrying GM pollen at a hive 4 km from a GM oilseed rape test site. Last month a new study by scientists at the Université de Lille in France warned that GM material can be spread over long distances (well beyond separation distances) by farm vehicles or by getting stuck to peoples' shoes [6].

Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner Pete Riley said:

"These maps show that if GM oil seed rape is allowed to be grown anywhere in the UK it will almost certainly result in widespread GM contamination. GM pollen can be carried by the wind, bees and through human contact over vast distances. The long-term consequences of this are difficult to predict. The Government must not allow the biotech industry to experiment with the UK's environment. GM crops must not be commercially grown in the UK."

Friends of the Earth Cymru Director Julian Rosser added,

"This research shows that every area of Wales could be affected by cross contamination between GM oilseed rape and its wild wild relatives. The National Assembly has led the way in the UK on restricting the growth of GM crops. Carwyn Jones must make it clear that he is willing to take the necessary action to protect the Welsh environment and Welsh agriculture."

A Government-funded public debate on GM crops, launched last month, is due to end on 18 July. Later this year the Government is expected to make a decision on whether or not GM crops should be commercially grown in the UK. Friends of the Earth is urging the public to take part in the debate. A questionnaire is available at www.gmnation.com/

Notes

1. The New Atlas of British and Irish Flora OUP 2002.

2. Friends of the Earth's maps are broken down into 10 km squares throughout the UK. They record the presence of wild relatives of oil seed rape within those squares (this is the most detailed information currently available). Data on the flora of the UK is still being improved and many grid squares may not have been surveyed at all. Furthermore, some the surveys may not be comprehensive. Oilseed rape is not grown in upland regions where wild relatives are less abundant.

3. The five relatives of oil seed rape mapped out are: Wild Turnip, Brown Mustard, Wild Cabbage, Hoary Mustard, Wild Raddish.

4. 46% of seeds in a wild turnip plant were found to be GM in one field in Humberside. (Monitoring large scale releases of genetically modified crops (epg 1/5/84) incorporating report on project epg 1/5/30: monitoring releases of genetically modified crop plants Carol Norris and Jeremy Sweet, NIAB.The final report of monitoring studies of field scale releases of GM oilseed rape crops in England from 1994 - 2000.)

5. Timmons et al 1995 Assessing the risks of wind pollination from fields of genetically modified Brassica napus ssp oleifera Euphytica 85: 417-423

6. www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/ ¬
gm_study_highlights_need_f.html

MEDIA BRIEFING

July 2003

UNLEASHING A NEW FORM OF POLLUTION?
GM OILSEED RAPE, WILD RELATIVES AND THE UK GOVERNMENT

The Government has the legislative powers to prevent GM oilseed rape from being grown commercially in the UK, in order to prevent widespread genetic pollution of our wildlife and the potential environmental harm this could cause. It has these powers under the EU GMO Deliberate Release Directive, which has recently entered into force. If it fails to use these powers, Friends of the Earth's research, outlined below, suggests that it could be responsible for unleashing a new form of pollution in the UK. Decisions will be made about the commercialisation of GM crops, including GM oilseed rape, later this year. One of the main concerns about the commercial growing of this GM crop is that GM oilseed rape could cross-breed with closely related plant species growing wild in the UK. The effects of this on how these plants grow and interact with other wildlife are not yet known, but could include the development of 'superweeds'. In addition, plants that have crossed with GM oilseed could act as 'stepping stones' for wider genetic pollution. The European Environment Agency has listed five plant species for which the risk of cross breeding with GM oilseed rape is considered to be high. Friends of the Earth has used the most recent botanical survey data to map the location of these plants. The results show that they are very commonly found across the whole of the UK, and particularly in lowland areas where GM oilseed rape is most likely to be grown. In many places all five of the plants are found. In short, there is no "safe area" to grow GM oilseed rape.

Why Does Gene Flow From GM Crops Matter?

The biotech giant Bayer Cropscience recently made applications to the European Union to allow the growing of three new types of GM oilseed rape , all of which could be grown in the UK if approved. Oilseed rape is widely grown across the UK and GM oilseed rape could be too, if it is approved by the Government.

Concerns have been widely expressed about the possibility that GM oilseed rape could cross breed with other plant species commonly found in the UK. This would mean that the genes for novel traits, such as herbicide and insect resistance, could escape into wild populations of plants. Once out, it would be almost impossible to eradicate such genetic pollution. Although this has always been a threat from GM trial sites, once commercial growing of GM oilseed rape starts the risk of this genetic pollution will hugely increase.

The effects of the gene flow to weedy and wild plants in the UK are not yet known, but possible outcomes include the development of herbicide resistant 'superweeds'. Another possibility is that plants will become stronger and fitter when they gain novel genes, becoming more competitive and invasive against other plants and so disturbing the balance in ecosystems. This fear is supported by a recent study in the US, in which researchers discovered that wild sunflowers, considered weeds by farmers, became hardier and produced 50 per cent more seeds when crossed with a GM sunflower . Novel genes could make plants stronger, herbicide resistant or more weedy.

Which UK Plants Might Be Affected?

Oilseed rape is a member of the Brassica, or cabbage, family, which includes hundreds of different species commonly found in Europe. Various species commonly found in the UK have been identified as being able to cross breed with oilseed rape. The Government's GM science advisers, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), identified four plant species found in the UK for which there was scientific evidence that hybrids could be formed with oilseed rape.

These were

• wild turnip (Brassica rapa),
• hoary mustard (Hirschfeldia incana),
• wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and
• brown mustard (Brassica juncea (See Table1).
• ACRE also identified wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea) as theoretically being able to cross breed with oilseed rape, although no studies have been done on this plant.

ACRE's list was confirmed by a report produced last year by the European Environment Agency . It concluded that for these five plant species, "the risk of hybridisation ...is high" and that it was likely that genes from GM crops would be incorporated into some of these species in the longer term. In other words, all of the European plants that have been identified as being at high risk of hybridisation with GM oilseed rape are found in the UK. Despite this, the Government has given no indication that it will oppose the introduction of GM oilseed rape in the UK.

Table 1: Oilseed Rape's Wild Relatives

Species
Distribution
Ability to cross breed with oilseed rape

Wild turnip (Brassica rapa)
Probably native.
Very common across the British isles; characteristic of river and canal banks and also railways, roadsides and in agricultural fields. Most likely to cross breed, particularly if plants are growing in fields of oilseed rape. Scientific evidence suggests that novel genes can enter and persist in wild turnip populations.

Brown mustard (B. juncea)
Introduced plant, sporadically found in fields, roadsides, waste ground etc. Rare in West and North Cross breeding observed in the field although at much lower rate than wild turnip.

Wild cabbage (B. oleracea)
Probably introduced by the Romans; naturalised on UK coasts, especially in Southern British Isles. Also grows sporadically inland Parent plant of oilseed rape, so cross breeding is theoretically possible, although not enough data to calculate likelihood

Hoary mustard (Hirschfeldia incana)
Native of southern Europe. Introduced to UK and common in southern England and Wales, growing on disturbed ground. Cross breeding has been shown to occur producing vigorous hybrids, although these may not persist in the plant population.

Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)
Probably introduced, but may be native on coasts. Very common and widely distributed across British isles, growing fields and gardens. Cross breeding found to occur in the field , although hybrids may not persist in the plant population.

What Does The Map Show?

In order to highlight the serious problems posed by the imminent introduction of commercially grown GM oilseed rape, Friends of the Earth mapped the distribution of the wild and weedy UK plants which are considered by UK and European Government scientists to be able to cross breed with oilseed rape. The data was taken from the recently published Atlas of British and Irish Flora which provides botanical survey data for all plant species found in the British Isles.

During the survey to produce the Atlas, the country was divided into ten by ten kilometre squares and surveyors were asked to identify which species were present in every square. As a result, the Atlas provides a detailed distribution map for each species, but does not provide information on the number of plants of any particular species that can be found in a particular square, only whether the species is present or not.

The distribution maps for the different species were plotted onto one map. This map shows that plants that can cross breed with oilseed rape are found right across the lowlands of the British Isles - exactly where oilseed rape is grown at the moment and where GM oilseed rape would be grown if the Government gives it the go ahead. The map also shows that in most places more than one species of plant that could cross breed with oilseed rape is found. In many places, particularly in southern England and Wales, all five species occur, increasing the number of wild and weedy plant species that could be at risk of genetic pollution if GM oilseed rape is grown in that area.

The maps therefore show that the UK is an extremely risky place to introduce GM oilseed rape. Not only are all of the plants that are high risk for hybridisation with oilseed rape found in the UK, they are found very commonly and are distributed widely.

GM Oilseed Rape Must Not Be Approved In the UK The European Environment Agency report states that the risk of hybridisation between GM oilseed rape and the five species mapped by Friends of the Earth is "high" and that introduction of genes from GM oilseed rape into these plant populations is a real possibility. This type of pollution cannot be controlled, and could even spread to other plant species.

The map shows that all these five wild relatives are widely spread across the country, and in many places all five species are found. Clearly, when the risk is so high of potentially irreversible environmental harm, the Government must act in a manner to protect the UK environment. The only way to achieve this is to stop the commercial growing of GM oilseed rape in the UK.

Endnotes

Bayer Cropscience has made applications for: 'Liberty Link' oilseed rape MS8xRF3, application reference C/BE/96/01; Liberty Link oilseed rape Falcon GS40/90pHoe6/AC, application reference C/DE/96/5; Liberty Link oilseed rape pHoe6/AC, application ref C/DE/98/6. New Scientist, 15 Aug 2002. 'Weeds get boost from GM crops'. Gray AJ & AF Raybould, 1999. Environmental Risks of Herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape. A review of the PGS hybrid oilseed rape DEFRA Eastham K & J Sweet, 2002. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): the significance of gene flow through pollen transfer European Environment Agency issue report No 28. Snow AA & R Jorgensen (1999). Fitness costs associated with transgenic glufosinate tolerance introgressed from Brassica napus ssp oleifera (oilseed rape) into weedy Brassica rapa In: Gene flow and agriculture: relevance for transgenic crops Lutman P (ed) BCPC Symposium Proceedings No 72 Jorgensen, RB, Anderson B, Landbo L & Mikkelsen TR (1996). Spontaneous hybridization between oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and weedy relatives In Proceedings of 9th International Symposium on Brassicas (eds) Dias JS, Crute I & Monteiro AA Chevre AM, Eber F, Darmency H, Fleury A, Picault H, Letanneur JC & Renard M, 2000. Assessment of interspecific hybridization between transgenic oilseed rape and wild radish under normal agronomic conditions Theoretical and Applied genetics 100: 1233-1239