Archived press release

New maps reveal massive extent of GM pollution threat

10 July 2003

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

Using national 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."

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 Radish.

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

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust