Genetic contamination threatens a vital reservoir for future plant breeding
Genetic contamination threatens a vital reservoir for future plant breeding
In recent months, enormous controversy has erupted over evidence that the Mesoamerican Centre of Crop Genetic Diversity has been contaminated with genetically modified maize material. These findings are alarming, not only because it is illegal to grow GM maize in Mexico, but especially because Mexico is the primary center of maize genetic diversity. Maize varieties developed over millennia by indigenous farmers, as well as wild and weedy relatives, represent one of the world’s most vital reservoirs of genetic material for future plant breeding and the basis of food security.
In September 2001 Mexico’s Ministry of Environment first reported that extensive GM maize contamination had been found in farmers’ maize varieties in two states. Earlier this year, Mexico’s Environment Ministry re-confirmed that GM contamination of farmers’ varieties of maize had been found at contamination rates of up to 35% in remote villages of Oaxaca and Puebla. Recent articles in scientific journals have squabbled over the methodology, but not over the fact that this contamination has occurred, confirmed by the Mexican government last week. Virtually all scientists agree that this centre of crop genetic diversity has been contaminated with DNA from genetically modified plants.
Civil society organisations at the UN conference on biodiversity in the Hague (CBD/COP6) are calling for an immediate moratorium on the release of GM seeds and grain in regions that form part of the crop Centres of Origin or Diversity for that species. Rigorous research, excluding trials in open environment, is needed to determine the impact of GM contamination on biodiversity in areas supplying the world's food systems.
The Third Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP3) met on 22-26 April 2002. Civil society organisations including ITDGPractical Action urgently called upon ICCP3 to acknowledge that GM contamination poses a serious threat to biological diversity.
Further information
Biomedcentral, 1 May 2002: Mexican study confirms GM contamination of maize
The Guardian, 19 April 2002: Mexico's vital gene reservoir polluted by modified maize
The Guardian, 24 May 2002: letter - "GM: and yet it moves"
Food First, Spring 2002: Genetic Pollution in Mexico's Centre of Maize Biodiversity
For more on the importance of our genetic heritage, see ITDGPractical Action's pages on the Convention on Biodiversity and the Genetic Commons.
"Biodiversity is not for sale, but nor is it for free. It is priceless": At the opening plenary of CBD/COP6 on 8th April 2002, Patrick Mulvany of ITDGPractical Action presented a statement urging the Conference of the Parties to assert the vital importance of biodiversity to the Earth Summit, and to take a tough and clear stance on the spread of GM crops and genetic pollution.