The establishment of genetically engineered canola populations in the US (GMO escape from farms)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/plos-teo100311.php

Public release date: 5-Oct-2011

Contact: Yael Franco
[e-mail]
415-568-3169
http://www.plos.org/|Public Library of Science>

The establishment of genetically engineered canola populations in the US

Press release from PLoS ONE

Large, persistent populations of genetically engineered canola 1 have been found outside of cultivation in North Dakota. As genetically engineered crops become increasingly prevalent in the United States, concerns remain about potential ecological side effects.

A study published today by the online journal PLoS ONE reports that genetically engineered canola endowed with herbicide resistance have been found growing outside of established cultivation regions along roadsides across North Dakota. These "escaped" plants were found state-wide and accounted for 45% of the total roadside plants sampled.

Furthermore, populations were found to persist from year to year and reach thousands of individuals. The authors also found that the escaped plants could hybridize with each other to create novel combinations of transgenic traits.

The authors argue that their result, more than 10 years after the initial release of genetically engineered canola, "raises questions of whether adequate oversight and monitoring protocols are in place in the U.S. to track the environmental impact of biotech products." However, they also note that biotechnology can provide important tools to feed the rapidly growing population. "We must safely engage all tools available to us to advance food, fuel and fiber alternatives as modern agriculture rises to the challenges of the next decade," they conclude.

…

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0025736

[GliderGuider]

1. So is Monsanto going to sue Mother Nature for patent violations now?

Or sue their own customers for negligence for letting the pollen escape?

Jesus fucking Christ, people!

:banghead:

[Nihil]

2. The great thing about eating all that arsenic ...

... is that it gives you lovely glossy hair! Buy more now!

In a totally detached (if moderately cynical) sense, it will be
fairly amusing to see what excuse Monsanto use to wriggle out of
it this time.

Maybe they'll just be honest and say "Fuck you, we paid for your
administration so we'll do just what we please" this time?

[Javaman]

3. Frankly, I think the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder is due to Monsanto

targeting bees for pollinating non GMO plants with "their" pollen.