Re: Is it really a Failure?

Neil:

Neil wrote > GM Trials - High risk to much-loved butterflies
> Press Information
> 17th October 2003
>
>
> The results of the farm-scale evaluation of GM crops, announced
> yesterday by Defra, showed that some varieties could have a serious
> impact on our already beleaguered butterfly populations.
>
> The trials have confirmed Butterfly Conservation's worst fears about
> the possible introduction of this new technology, which could greatly
> exacerbate the problems facing butterflies and other wildlife.
> Particularly worrying is the major reduction in numbers of much-loved
> species such as Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock, which were reduced by
> up to 50% in GM crops compared to conventional ones.

Canadian studies done in 1999 for Monarch larva damage in Bt corn fields
are, in my opinion, flawed. Zeneca - a major Bt corn seed producer awarded
the University of Guelph $400,000 the previous year for a 'chair'. Mark
Sears, chair of the University of Guelph's Department of Environmental
Biology and chair of the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition, conducted the studies
the next summer.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a 'natural' pesticide and can be used in
liquid form.  The warning label on the bottle states that extreme
temperatures will significantly reduce the strength of this product.

The methodology used to conduct the the 1999 tests: "During the peak pollen
shed period (a five day period between July 15 and July 22, 1999 depending
on the field location), pollen was collected by stapling paper bags over the
shedding tassels of 100 randomly selected corn plants at each of the nine
field sites. After 24 hours, the bag and tassels were removed from the plant
and taken back to the laboratory where tassels were shaken out and removed
and the pollen and anthers were collected in clear plastic containers with
ventilated lids. Pollen collected from each of 25 plants was pooled in a
single container so that there were four containers per field. The pooled
pollen samples were then aged for 0, 2, 5 or 10 days prior to being stored
in a freezer at -17 ° C. Pollen was aged by placing the containers outside
on a green background in a sunny location. Containers were covered with a
tarp overnight and during periods of rainfall. After 2, 5 or 10 days,
containers were sealed and placed in the freezer."

Before the pollen was placed on the leaves, anthers, which contain the
highest concentration of Bt were also removed.

A 20 acre natural habitat in our area is surrounded by Bt corn. Pollen drift
can extend well over 30 feet from the fields, depending on wind strength and
direction. Lack of rainfall is also a significant factor. Pollen drifts kill
all larva in their path including Lacewings, Swallowtail, Monarch, Viceroy.

Jackie Lucier


http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/ar/ar01/4e.shtml
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Plant Health and Production Division,
Plant Biosafety Office - Preliminary Report on the Ecological Impact of BT
Corn Pollen on the Monarch Butterfly in Ontario. March 30, 2000. Executive
Summary