Archived press release

Gm crop trials undermined by new u.s. evidence

25 June 2002

In the Newsnight report, agricultural experts reveal that between 75% and 90% of US GM maize growers are using a product called Liberty Atz - a mixture of Aventis' weed killer GA and Atrazine, the traditional herbicide used on maize crops [1]. Atrazine has been a problem pesticide for decades [2], and washes readily into rivers and groundwater. It is an EU Red List pesticide and is on the EU Priority List for hormone disrupting effects in animals [3].

During Seed Listing Hearings in the UK (held after an intervention by FOE) Aventis/Bayer have claimed that one of the main benefits of GM maize will be the substitution of atrazine with glufosinate ammonium. Company documents available from FOE state that "glufosinate ammonium has a safer Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) assessment than atrazine" and "is not as mobile in the soil as atrazine and so will not have the same effects on watercourses as atrazine" and "has a significantly better environmental profile than atrazine" [4]

FOE food and farming campaigner Pete Riley said:
"Aventis' pro GM maize propaganda has been thoroughly undermined by Newsnight's findings. In the US, farmers were sold GM crops with a promise that atrazine would not be needed. But the reality seems to be very different. Because glufosinate is not as effective as Aventis has claimed, we are threatened with a new regime combining the worst of GM and the worst of the old system. Meanwhile, the credibility of the Government's Farm Scale Trials has been further undermined. The public have been told that the GM crop trials will show how GM crops will be grown in farming practice. But this has now been shown to be nothing more than a con trick".

Notes

1. Aventis Liberty Atz Herbicide Materials Safety Data Sheet from Aventis 10% by weight Glufosinate and 31.75% Atrazine.
2. Atrazine has been a problem in rivers, groundwater and public drinking water supply for decades. It's use is restricted in the UK to agriculture only.
3. Atrazine has been a Red List Substance since the 1980s because of its toxicity and has recently been confirmed as a confirmed hormone disrupting chemical.
4. From Aventis Crop Science UK Limited's "Representations in Support of National Listing of Forage maize Hybrid variety Chardon LL (AFP 51/833)" 25th April 2000.

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