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[SANET-MG] greenpeace does not support pharm crops
Commercial scale pharm crop production is allowed in USA in large field
test releases such as those being promoted for rice.
IN THE MAIL: Greenpeace doesn't back genetic engineering
Grand Forks Herald, May 17 2005
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/11664124.htm
- Editor's Note: The following letter appeared on the Herald's May 15
Editoral Page in response to comments in a story, "GF firm plans to make
pharmaceuticals from flax," which also appears as a HERALD ONLINE EXTRA.
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands
Greenpeace strongly denies the suggestion that it supports the
cultivation of genetically engineered pharmaceutical or "pharma" crops,
a suggestion made by the Grand Forks biotech company Agragen.
Greenpeace vehemently opposes the environmental release of any GE crops,
especially GE pharma crops. Pharma crops (such as rice, maize, soya and
tomato) are designed so that a particular plant is capable of producing
drugs and vaccines within itself. The growth of such crops easily could
contaminate the human food supply with substances that do not belong in
our food. Pharma crops also could have devastating ecological
consequences if crossed with wild plants or eaten by wildlife.
In the United States, GE pharma crops already are grown on a commercial
scale. The companies involved try to reduce the costs of producing
medicines and vaccines by growing them in plants. Although this may
sound very attractive, there is growing scientific concern over the
potential risks.
Moreover, accidents involving the mixing of pharma crops with food meant
for human consumption already have happened. In 2002, seeds from a GE
corn-pharma-crop produced by Texas based company Prodigene were left in
fields in Iowa and Nebraska and grew the following year among
conventional soybean crops.
Releasing genetically engineered pharma plants is a recipe for disaster.
Drugs, vaccines and other substances could end up in people's food,
without them even knowing about it and without any knowledge of the
health consequences.
Greenpeace is urging food producers not to buy any products from regions
where GE pharma crops are grown.
Geert Ritsema
Gina Sanchez
Ritsema is a Greenpeace International GE Campaigner, and Sanchez works
for Greenpeace
International Communications.
----------------------------------------------------------greenpeace
does not back
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