A hacked genetic code is taking over our food and forests!

The Sierra Club is opposed to any release into the environment of genetically engineered organisms that have the potential to cause environmental damage. Genetic engineering is a new technology which, unlike traditional breeding methods, allows the transfer of genetic material from one organism into a host organism of an unrelated species, thus bypassing the natural reproductive barriers between species. The genetic manipulation resulting from genes inserted by genetic engineering cannot be recalled; the altered characteristics will be passed on to future generations and continue to be reproduced in the environment.

Ventria Bioscience wanted to grow pharmaceutical-producing rice (pharm rice) in California. This rice - genetically engineered with human genes to produce lactoferrin and lysozyme - would be used as a pharmaceutical-producing crop. Dr. Michael Hansen, senior research associate at Consumers Union's Consumer Policy Institute, was interviewed by The Scientist regarding the potential spread of pharm genes into the environment. Dr. Hansen stated: "There are unanswered environmental and human-health issues regarding the two proteins." Due to consumer pressure, it was not approved.

Farmers are concerned with the potential contamination of their commercial crops, as well as lost markets. If a farmer's crop is contaminated by genetically engineered organisms, the farmer has no legal recourse. Even worse, the biotech industry has sued farmers when their farmland became the victim of gene flow! Organic farmers can lose their organic certification when genes carrying genetically engineered traits spread onto organic cropland.

Tinkering with genetic codes, the fundamental building blocks of all life on the planet, is asking for trouble. The good news is that we, the residents of California, can stop this manipulation and patenting of genetic sequences derived from living things in our own locales. Ordinances have been passed in several counties in California that prohibit the planting of genetically engineered crops. But when biotechnology corporations realized the power of local communities, they lobbied state lawmakers to introduce legislation preempting local control of seeds and plants, as well as voiding existing ordinances.

A legislative showdown is underway. Late in the 2005 legislative session, preemption legislation was introduced. California bills AB 1508 and SB 1056 aim to strip local regulation of food crops. These bills were stalled due to tremendous citizen opposition, but are slated to be heard again in the 2006 legislative session. It is up to each and every one of us to make certain we retain our democratic rights to allow our communities to create a sustainable vision for our food supply!

WhatYouCanDo

Please voice your support for local democracy and control over our food and agriculture by voicing your opposition to AB 1508 and SB 1056. Visit www.calgefree.org/preemption.shtml#Takeaction

Additional Resources

Contact your legislator at www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Tool kit at www.environmentalcommons.org/local-control-toolkit.pdf

More information at www.calgefree.org/resources/consumers.shtml

Sierra Club policy www.sierraclub.org/policy/conservation/biotech.asp

Olga Mandrussow, member, Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Committee