GE PHARMA CROPS: A RECIPE FOR DISASTER

Greenpeace strongly denies that it supports genetic engineering

Amsterdam. 10 May 2005-Greenpeace strongly denies the alleged suggestion made by 
US biotech company Agragen that it supports the cultivation of genetically 
engineered (GE) pharmaceutical ("pharma") crops. (1)

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 could easily contaminate the human food 
supply with substances that do not belong in our food. Pharma crops could also 
have devastating ecological consequences if crossed with wild plants or eaten by 
wildlife. 

In the US, GE pharma crops are already 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 (2).  

Moreover, accidents involving the mixing of pharma crops with food meant for 
human consumption have already 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. (3)

"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," said 
Geert Ritsema of Greenpeace International said.

Greenpeace is urging food producers not to buy any products from regions where 
GE pharma crops are grown. 

A detailed briefing on Genetically Engineered pharma crops is available from 
Greenpeace International. 

For further information, contact: 
Geert Ritsema, Greenpeace International GE Campaigner, +31 646 1973 28
Gina Sanchez, Greenpeace International Communications, +31 627 0000 64

Notes for the editor:
(1) See: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/business/11599407.htm
(2) See for more details: Greenpeace briefing "Pharm crops: a super disaster in the making."
(3) Ibidem 


This message was brought to you by Greenpeace International.