"Ten years after the introduction of Monsanto's GE Soya into the
environment and our food, we have collected enough data from around
the world to be able to say that this product should have never
been approved in the first place. Recent Greenpeace research in
Romania has exposed the fact that since the company has introduced
GE Soya; things have gone totally out of control. European member
states should avoid Romania's example, protect European agriculture
and oppose Monsanto's application," says Susanne Fromwald from
Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe.
A new Greenpeace report reveals that the GE Soya crop in Romania
covers more hectares than are officially registered. Due to
illegal cultivation and uncontrollable contamination, conventional
and organic farming is now impossible in many regions.
"Transgenic seeds are a poisoned promise. Romania did not have
any scientific and public debate prior to the commercial
introduction. Neither the authorities, nor the companies applied
the precautionary principle in assessing the impact of these crops
in agriculture. Year after year, the acreage of the herbicide
resistant soybeans increased uncontrollably," stated Mr Dima, who
left Monsanto in 1999, when the GE soybeans were first introduced
in Romania.
Romanian Government officials, reacting to Greenpeace's
findings, announced that the cultivation of GE crops should be
reduced in 2006 and phased out completely by 2007, when it is due
to join the EU. However, Monsanto filing an application for the
whole of Europe now would effectively prevent Romania ridding
itself of GE crops and GE contamination.
Experience in Argentina and the United States has showed the
cultivation of Monsanto´s GE soybeans contaminates conventional and
organic agriculture. Furthermore, it has been reported that the
cultivation of these crops often leads to the increased use of
pesticides. Increasing rain forest destruction, especially in
Argentina, is also closely related to the expansion of GE soy
planting (2). Recent research also shows irregularities of the
introduced genetic construct, which could cause unintended effects
in these crops (3). Some alarming health signals were reported
after feeding trials with mice (4).
Greenpeace opposes the release of GE Soya into the environment
and the food chain and is asking the European member states to
reject Monsanto's application.
Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation, which
uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global
environmental problems, and to force solutions essential to a green
and peaceful future.
For further information regarding the Greenpeace GE campaign and
to download a copy of the report please go to www.greenpeace.org
Other contacts: Susanne Fromwald, Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe (mobile) +43 664 612 6706Gabriel Paun, Greenpeace Romania +40 744 351 977 (mobile)Mhairi Dunlop, Greenpeace International Communications, +44 7801 212 960
VVPR info: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/releases/GM_register
Notes: (1) Application of US company Monsanto for cultivation in EU: http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/gmo/gm_ff_applications/more_info/1243_en.html (2) Benbrook report, Rust, Resistance and Rising Costs - Problems facing Soybean producers in Argentina. 20 January 2005 (3) Rang, A et al,2005,Detection of RNA variants transcribed from the transgene in Roundup Ready soybean, Eur Food Res Technol 220:438-443(4) Malatesta M, Caporaloni C, Gavaudan S, Rocchi MBL, Serafini S, Tiberi C, Gazzanellli G (2002): Ultrastructural Morphometrical and Immunocytochemical Analyses of Hepatocyte Nuclei from Mice Fed on Genetically Modified Soybean. Cell Structural und Function 27: 173- 180.