THIRD WORLD NETWORK BIOSAFETY INFORMATION SERVICE
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Are GM Crops Better for the Environment?
The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) has released its second report as part of its GMO Inquiry 2015 Project. This report looks at the environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) crops in Canada, and around the world. Much of the concern centres on the social, economic and health impacts of herbicide-tolerant (HT) GM crops, which make up around 85% of GM crops worldwide.
The report describes how HT crops drive the pesticide treadmill. Glyphosate, recently classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer as “probably carcinogenic to humans”, is the top pesticide used in Canada. Its use in the country tripled between 2005 and 2011 and overall herbicide use had increased by 130% by 2011. Likewise, herbicide use in U.S. agriculture increased by 237 million kg from 1996-2011, with HT soybeans accounting for 70% of this increase. The picture is similar in South America. The widespread use of glyphosate has resulted in the spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds, which now cover some 28.3 million ha in the U.S. In response, biotech companies have come up with GM crops resistant to older herbicides like 2,4-D and dicamba. Meanwhile, there have been some incidences of insect resistance to Bt insect-resistant GM crops, forcing farmers in those cases to now spray pesticides.
Also of concern is the threat of contamination of local biodiversity and future risks of new GM creations like fast growing salmon and GM forest trees. The report concludes that GM crops, trees and animals are rooted in and perpetuate a model of agriculture that has serious environmental impacts and is not sustainable in the long-term. It recommends replacing this industrial model with resilient, diverse and sustainable agriculture and food systems.
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Item 1
ARE GM CROPS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
www.GMOinquiry.ca/environment
Summary
In this second report of GMO Inquiry 2015, we investigate the environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM; also called genetically engineered or GE) crops in Canada, and around the world.
After 20 years, most of the GM crops grown in Canada are herbicide-tolerant, and the rest are insect-resistant (some are both). There is limited data in Canada to help us examine the relationship between GM crops and pesticide use but we can see that, in general, herbicide use has increased over the past 20 years. The widespread cultivation of glyphosate-tolerant crops, in particular, has driven up the use of glyphosate-based herbicides.
This increased use of glyphosate has resulted in the emergence and spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds. In response, biotechnology companies have genetically engineered crops to be tolerant to the older herbicides 2,4-D and dicamba. These GM crops will further increase the herbicide load in the environment and lead to even more herbicide-resistant weeds.
GM insect-resistant (Bt) crops have reduced insecticide use in some countries. The Canadian government has not monitored the impact of Bt crops on insecticide use in Canada. However, insects are beginning to develop resistance to Bt crops in the US and other countries, and farmers are turning to other insecticide applications to control them. Additionally, Bt plants themselves produce insecticidal toxins that are released into the environment.
GM crops have also had a number of impacts on biodiversity. Herbicide-tolerant crops reduce weed diversity in and around fields, which in turn reduces habitat and food for other important species, including the Monarch butterfly. Studies have also observed that Bt crops can have negative impacts on non-target insects, including pollinators, and soil and water organisms.
In addition, gene flow from GM crops poses a threat to non-GM crops and wild and weedy crop relatives, particularly in global centres of origin and diversity. Such GM contamination threatens the future of organic and ecological farming in Canada.
Future risks from GM crops and animals may look quite different from our current reality, as new organisms with new GM traits are introduced into our environment and food systems. For example, Canada has just approved a GM “non-browning” apple, and GM herbicide-tolerant and low-lignin alfalfa could be sold in 2016 for the first time. The Minister of the Environment has approved the production of GM fast-growing salmon in Canada, though it is not yet approved for eating and is therefore not yet being grown. Canada also continues to allow field tests of GM forest trees. These GM crops and animals all pose new, unique risks that are hard to predict. Once they are released into the environment, however, genetically modified organisms are impossible to control or recall.
Overall, GM crops, trees and animals are rooted in, and perpetuate, a model of agriculture that has a number of serious environmental impacts and is not sustainable in the long-term.
Item 2
PRESS RELEASE – CANADIAN BIOTECHNOLOGY ACTION NETWORK
Genetically Modified Crops Harm the Environment, Says New Report
Herbicide sales up 130% in Canada since GM crops approved
May 22, 2015. Ottawa. Are GM Crops Better for the Environment?, a new report released today by the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) documents the failure of genetically modified (GM) crops to reduce pesticide use or protect biodiversity.
The report (www.GMOinquiry.ca/environment) found that during the twenty years that GM crops have been grown, herbicide sales in Canada have more than doubled, with an increase of 130%.
“There is a strong correlation between the expansion of GM herbicide-tolerant crop area and the increased use of herbicides in Canada,” said Lucy Sharratt of CBAN. “This environmental impact was predicted twenty years ago and needs to be urgently addressed to protect ecosystems and human health.”
The use of glyphosate-based herbicides in Canada tripled between 2005 and 2011, and is associated with the cultivation of GM glyphosate-tolerant corn, canola, soy and sugar beet. Glyphosate is now the highest-volume pesticide active ingredient sold in Canada, followed by 2,4-D and glufosinate ammonium.
In March 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans”.
“The industry promised GM crops would make food production more sustainable, but GM has only meant more chemicals and less diversity on our farms,” said Thibault Rehn of the Quebec group and CBAN Member, Vigilance OGM.
CBAN’s report also details the evolution of five glyphosate-resistant weed species in Canada since glyphosate-tolerant GM crops were introduced. To manage these weeds, GM crops also tolerant to the older herbicides 2,4-D- and dicamba are now being introduced, making it possible to spray the crops with a herbicide mixture.
Are GM Crops Better for the Environment? also examines the impact of GM crops on biodiversity and notes that:
· Insects that have developed resistance to GM insect-resistant (Bt) crops are spreading across the world and could soon be found in Canada.
· North America has lost 90% of its Monarch butterfly population due to habitat destroyed by glyphosate use on GM glyphosate-tolerant corn in the US.
· GM contamination in Canada prevents organic farmers from growing canola, and may have reduced genetic diversity in both canola and flax seed.
· GM organisms are difficult to control or recall once they are released.
“Our report provides compelling evidence that Canada urgently needs to evaluate the environmental impacts of the GM crops that have been released,” said Sharratt. “We need to make sure we don’t continue using ineffective and destructive strategies. At the moment we’re set to simply accelerate herbicide use along with the problems of pest and weed resistance and biodiversity loss.”
More information: Lucy Sharratt, CBAN, cell 613 809 1103; Thibault Rehn, Vigilance OGM, 514 582 1674; cell: Taarini Chopra, CBAN, cell 226 606 8240. www.GMOinquiry.ca/environment
The GMO Inquiry 2015 (www.GMOinquiry.ca) is a project of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) and future reports will examine regulation of GMOs in Canada, and their impacts on the environment, consumers, and farmers. CBAN is a campaign coalition of 17 organizations that researches, monitors and raises awareness about issues relating to genetic engineering in food and farming. CBAN members include farmer associations, environmental and social justice organizations, and regional coalitions of grassroots groups. CBAN is a project on Tides Canada’s shared platform.