genetic engineering

Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes into sequences that do not occur naturally.

The resulting genetically engineered (GE) organisms - animals such as fish and sheep, or plants such as rice, tomatoes and cotton - can interbreed with non-GE organisms, thereby spreading to new environments and future generations.

We call this "genetic pollution", and, despite its reassurances, the biotech industry lacks a full understanding of the impact of released GE material on the environment and human health. Greenpeace is therefore opposed to all such releases.

Greenpeace also opposes all patents on plants, animals and humans as well as their genes. Life is not a commodity and must not be subject to private property claims.

Molecular biology has the potential to increase our understanding of nature and provide new medical tools; but this is no justification for turning the environment into a boundless genetic experiment.

Highlights
Greenpeace has mobilised hundreds of thousands of consumers who reject the use of GMOs in their food and demand mandatory labelling of all products.

Greenpeace has achieved a ban on planting GMO soybeans in Brazil - the world's second biggest soybean exporter. Following Greenpeace protests, Thailand banned GMO field trials and announced GMO labelling legislation.

Greenpeace was instrumental in getting the Biosafety Protocol on transboundary movements of GMOs adopted and expects it to be ratified by 2002. This protocol provides for national bans on GMO imports.

Challenges for the future
A fish farm in the USA awaits permission to begin trafficking in genetically engineered salmon - grotesque fish which grow 2-3 faster than normal. Greenpeace has filed a legal petition against any approvals.

Greenpeace wishes to see the mandatory labelling of GMOs in food and animal feed, but has a fight on its hands. The US, Canada and Argentina are struggling desperately against such provision.