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A Potato or a Pesticide?Wise farmers and organic gardeners have long known the benefits of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a naturally occurring, soil bacterium that controls common garden pests such as cabbage loopers, corn borers, and Colorado potato beetles. When applied properly - and only when necessary - Bt is an effective, low-toxicity pesticide that does not harm beneficial insects or soil life. However, modern science has taken this organic gardener's friend into the genetics lab with a startling result: plants that produce their own Bt. Biotechnology now allows scientists to splice genes from virtually any organism - be it plant, animal, or bacterium - right into the genetic fabric (DNA) of a plant. Plants that receive the Bt gene begin manufacturing this bacterium in their leaves, stems, kernels, and tubers. As long as the plant is growing, it continues pumping out Bt. The result is that pests, and others who consume these plants get a dose of pesticide in every bite! One of the problems with the new Bt-impregnated plants is that they deliver 10 to 20 times more Bt than necessary to control the targeted pests. Studies in Switzerland and Scotland [1] have revealed that when beneficial insects and soil organisms are exposed to these genetically-altered plants, the insects exhibit high rates of mortality and dramatically reduced reproductive rates. We can expect that insect-eating bird populations will also be negatively affected. And what about the effect on humans who eat Bt-impregnated potatoes and corn? Though Bt is a relatively safe pesticide, check out the cautions on the packaging at your local nursery and ask yourself if you think you should be eating it. Another problem is that these Bt-impregnated crops deliver the toxin continuously from spring right through harvest. Constant exposure to the pesticide will lead to Bt-resistant insects. As these new generations of super-insects evolve, Bt, which is currently one of the few organic pest control available to home and market gardeners, will lose its effectiveness. Scientists estimate this will happen within the next three to five years. And what about the migration of this pesticide-producing trait to other non-intended plants? There is no doubt that pollen from genetically-altered plants will be transferred to neighboring plants. In research conducted at the University of Chicago (Nature, September 3, 1998), it was demonstrated that unaltered plants were 20 times more likely to be pollinated by genetically modified plants than by other unaltered plants. Field tests showed that ¡§genetic engineering can substantially increase the probability of transgene escape, even in a species considered to be almost completely selfing. Why this happens is not known, but it is clear that genetically altered plants do not behave as expected. Genetically modified plants are being introduced at a rapid pace. Here in the US, as much as 60 to 70 percent of the food on grocery store shelves already contains some sort of genetically modified components. In 1998, an estimated 25 percent of our nation¡&brkbar;s corn crop was genetically engineered with either herbicide resistance or with the Bt gene. [2] Bt-modified potatoes have quickly become the variety of choice for growers in the western US. An estimated 3.5 percent of our country¡&brkbar;s 1998 potato crop was impregnated with the Bt gene. [3] If you've eaten French fries or potato chips any time in the past year, there's a good chance you've eaten the new Bt potatoes. In addition to Bt potatoes and corn, farmers are also planting soybeans and other crops that have been genetically altered so they will tolerate certain herbicides. Seeds can now be altered to help seed companies control access to their proprietary plant varieties. These new seed varieties are genetically programmed so they are incapable of producing a second generation of viable seeds. Though seed saving is a tradition that's gone on for thousands of years, this new technology ensures that seed producers will have a guaranteed market for their products. Will these human-engineered genetic traits find their way into neighboring fields? Your garden? The woods and meadows of America? Unfortunately, we cannot control the spread of pollen. Once released, these new genetic traits will be at large in the environment and impossible to recall. What's good for corporate America is not necessarily good for the public - or for the planet. As gardeners, common sense tells us that genetic tampering is not a good idea. The headlong rush to license and release bioengineered plant material needs to be stopped. We simply do not have enough information to guarantee the safety of beneficial insects, birds, humans, other plants, and ecosystems. Gardeners know that the natural world is highly complex and doesn't necessarily operate the way one might expect. Downstream effects are inevitable, and the results may be both far-reaching and irreversible. At the present time, we have no way of knowing whether the food we eat has been genetically modified or not. Corporate giants continue to vigorously oppose labeling laws. Yet a 1997 poll conducted by Novartis - a corporation that's heavily involved in the biotechnology industry - found that 93 percent of Americans want all genetically engineered food to be labeled. Such laws already exist in many western European countries. Here in the US we need make our voices heard and win back our right to choose the food we eat. Gardener's Supply is one of many groups and organizations concerned about the potential dangers of bioengineering. Our objective is to raise awareness about these important, complex, and controversial issues in the hope of triggering wider public discussion and action.
Sources [2] Union of Concerned Scientists, at www.ucsusa.org [3] Union of Concerned Scientists, at www.ucsusa.org Here is a list of resources for more information, as well as places to register your concerns about biotechnology issues. We urge you to write to your congressional representatives, and have provided a phone number for the U.S. Capitol Switchboard Directory.
Monsanto Company, The Agricultural Group, 800 North Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63167; (800) 332-3111. www.monsanto.com U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 4700 River Rd. Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737, Attn: Dianne Hatmaker, (301) 734-5787. www.aphis.usda.gov/bbep/bp
Other articles of interest: Playing God in the Garden, Michael Pollan, The New York Times Magazine, October 25, 1998.
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