Bugs can feed on 'pest-proof' genetic crops

Apr 13 2003 <a href=icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk>By The Sunday Sun

Green campaigners have called for trials of genetically modified crops to be halted after new research showed that they actually feed the insects they are designed to kill.

Pests have become immune to specially engineered toxins on the "Frankenstein" plants, according to a startling study.

The new evidence undermines one of the key claims of the biotechnology industry . . . that insects cannot live on GM crops.

Pete Riley, the North spokesman for Friends of the Earth, said: "This research shows we don't understand the full impact that this technology will have on the environment.

"The Government and biotech companies are potentially taking a massive risk with people's lives by allowing these crops to be planted in open fields.

"We are calling for a full cessation of ongoing and future GM trials."

Companies have added genes from the poisonous bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to a number of GM crops in an effort to kill insects.

The natural toxin is widely used by organic farmers to spray pest-infested crops once or twice a year.

This short blitz reduces the risk of the insects becoming immune.

But when the poison is built into GM crops, insects are continually exposed to the toxin over several generations and can become resistant.

The new research by scientists at Imperial College London and the Universidad Simon Rodrigues in Venezuela found that, once the insects become resistant, the poison acts as a food supplement that helps them thrive.

Researchers found that larvae of the diamondback moth - a major pest in the US - grew twice as fast after eating GM cabbage leaves.

Mr Riley said: "The GM companies have continually got things wrong.

"They said genes could not be cross-transmitted between species but Newcastle University research found bacteria in human guts were picking up DNA from GM food.

"This could be a disaster for humanity because many of these GM crops contain antibiotics that bacteria could become immune to."

advice

Biotech companies are conducting small field trials of genetically modified crops in the North and across the rest of the UK.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "We cannot comment at this stage.

"We've drawn attention to the Advisory Committee on Releases in the Environment on this research and have asked for their advice.

"It has no immediate implications for the UK as Bt crops are not currently grown here."