The Institute of Science in Society

Science Society Sustainability http://www.i-sis.org.uk

Genetic modification of a plant seed's DNA does not mean that the genetic plan is then absolutely stable. The genetic table is read for the plants growth and also its needs by a mediator called RNA, and sends signals to create these functions. Genetically modified plants may not in fact keep the gene that is introduced in the scientist's original game plan in its introduced position and when the gene moves it will not create the same effect as it did from the place in the genetic table that was calculated for it.This is the DANGER as altered proteins may become part of the plant for the future which may be toxins or cause allergies in humans. And as we see from the following brings about undesirable changes in weed presence in crop fields.(JBraddell,editor)

"We must remove GM crops from the globe now and shift comprehensively to non-GM sustainable agriculture." This was the call of the Independent Science Panel after a thorough review of the evidence in 2003 [4]. Their case for a GM-free sustainable world has been considerably strengthened since.

Conventional industrial agriculture has been showing signs of collapse from decades of unsustainable practices, including massive reductions in grain yields for four successive years. With water already depleted in the major bread baskets of the world, and oil rapidly depleting, and global warming predicted to further compromise crop yields, there is a real threat of not producing enough food to feed the world [28-30], which is why we cannot afford to waste any more time with GM crops. GM crops are industrial monocultures writ large: more damaging to the environment, more genetically uniform and hence more prone to disease, use more pesticides, according the US Department of Agriculture’s own data [31], and according to farmers’ experience from all over the world, require more water and are less tolerant to drought than non-GM varieties [32]. Persisting with GM crops now will have catastrophic consequences on world food security.

glyphosate herbicide
Field of RR crops have been suffering infestation of weeds resistant to glyphosate and Roundup for several years. Now, the farmers’ worst nightmare has come true. The dreaded palmer pigweed has become Roundup resistant, Monsanto admits [21]. Pigweed is considered one of the very toughest herbicide resistant weeds to deal with, and palmer pigweed especially so, it can get to six feet tall.

Glyphosate is rapidly translocated to, and accumulate in roots and reproductive tissues, resulting in reduced pollen production and viability, or increased fruit abortion. Glyphosate affects the relationship between RR crops, plant pathogens, plant pests and symbiotic microorganisms, nitrogen fixation or accumulation [27]. These may account to some extent for the yield drag that has been consistently observed, and increases the exposure of livestock and humans to toxic herbicide residues.

Common waterhemp, also known as pigweed, from seed collected from suspect fields in 2004 showed high tolerance to glyphosate in greenhouse experiments [22]. The weeds were found in fields planted with Roundup Ready soybeans continuously since 1996. “Common waterhemp is our No. 1 weed problem in corn and soybeans in most of Missouri.” said Kevin Bradley, Missouri University extension weed specialist, “With the introduction of Roundup Ready soybean varieties, glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup and similar herbicides) became the No. 1 herbicide used in soybean fields.”

The problem developed over the past three years at one site and the grower continued to use increasing amounts of glyphosate. The weeds survived a dosage of glyphosate almost 10 times the recommended rate (6lb per acre as opposed to 0.75lb).

Last year, glyphosate-resistant common ragweed was confirmed in Missouri, which was also resistant to 10 times the normal rate of application. Marestail and ryegrass had already developed glyphosate resistance even earlier.

Three years ago, an independent market research study predicted that RR resistance was set to hit the economic value of farmland, wiping around 17 percent off land rentals. More than half of farm managers surveyed placed glyphosate resistance in weeds ahead of weed resistance to other herbicides. Glyphosate-resistant maretail was found in Delaware, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. Glyphosate- resistant ryegrass was reported in California. Weed scientists in Iowa and Missouri were then testing waterhemp; and complaints about the marginal control by glyphosate of velvetleaf, ivyleaf, morning glory and lambsquarters had also surfaced. The report, commissioned by Syngenta, had been quietly circulated to farmers and landowners via its PR company, Gibbs & Soell [23, 24].