The ACB has lodged an objection to an application for field trials in South Africa of genetically modified (GM) canola; namely, event DP73496, which confers tolerance to glyphosate-based herbicides.
Since there are 154 known species of Brassicaceae in South Africa that can potentially cross-fertilise with canola, genetic contamination is a significant risk. This is aided through canola’s tendency to form weedy feral populations that could hybridise with wild relatives. The seeds can remain dormant in soil for many years, and pollen has been documented to move close on 3km away from the source. Thus, we underscore the importance of carefully assessing the risks of persistence and genetic contamination, yet these are overlooked in the application.
Generally, introducing herbicide-tolerant GM traits initiates a vicious cycle of ever-increasing usage of poisonous agrochemicals and further lock-in of dependency on industrial inputs, which leads to resistance in plants and the rise of super weeds, which then leads to the introduction of new or stacked traits. Meanwhile, the documented ill health effects to humans and the environment are compounded, and the soil becomes further depleted, while the risks of contamination and persistence grow.
The ACB has repeatedly drawn attention to the negative impacts of glyphosate and called for a ban. Glyphosate is classified as a probable human carcinogen. There have been more than 100,000 class action lawsuits in the US due to occupational exposure resulting in serious, and potentially fatal, illnesses, and Monsanto/Bayer has had to pay US$11 billion in damages.
Glyphosate has also been shown to have wide-ranging impacts on non-target organisms, from insects, including pollinators, and soil microorganisms, to mammals and aquatic organisms.
Thus, we object strongly to this application and call on the Executive Council of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Act, to reject the application for field trials, based on the precautionary principle.
Please click here to read the objection in full.
