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Germany between 2001 and 2004, researchers examined _ to bees in a laboratory was found to impair their the effects of pollen from Bt corn on bees. The study communication for a few hours.’! Sub-lethal doses of concluded that there was no evidence of a "toxic effect of | imidacloprid in laboratory and field experiments Bt corn on healthy honey bee populations". But when, by decreased the bees’ flight activity and olfactory sheer chance, the bees used in the experiments were discrimination and also impaired their olfactory learning infested with a parasite, something strange happened: a __ performance.” "significantly stronger decline in the number of bees" If nothing else, this body of research suggests that occurred among those that had been fed a highly _ there is a pressing need for a moratorium on the concentrated Bt poison feed. According to the study's | commercial production of GM crops until such time as director Hans-Hinrich Kaatz, a professor at the University the long-term repercussions and safety of genetic of Halle, Germany, the bacterial toxin in the GM corn may _— manipulations can be ascertained. have "...altered the surface of the bees’ intestines, Already, research looking into the yields of GM crops sufficiently weakening the bees to allow the parasites to —_ and their need for pesticides is showing that a majority o! gain entry—or perhaps it was the other way around. We _ genetically engineered crops currently in cultivation don't know." This study led German beekeeping official neither show higher yields nor require lesser quantities o! Walter Haefeker to hypothesise that, "besides a number __ pesticides to grow. After reviewing over 8,200 university of other factors", the fact that GM insect-resistant plants trials in 1998, Dr Charles Benbrook, former director of the are now used in 40 per cent of cornfields in the United Board on Agriculture at the US National Academy o States could be playing a role in the increasingly Sciences, found that GM Roundup Ready soybeans widespread collapse of bee yielded an average of 5-10 per colonies." cent less than similar natura Certainly, honey bees are varieties. He also found tha declining in areas where GM farmers used an average of 2-10 Certainly, honey bees are crops are widely grown and also declining in areas where times more herbicide (Roundup released in small test plots. GM crops are widely than on conventional ones. ‘The eel Tinting these tacts mmaieagalarele rs uaiane refer Roundup Ready soybeans Professor Joe Cummins has where GM crops are is because they simplify identified the universal use of released in small test plots. management of large chemical- systemic pesticide seed intensive farms by, for example, dressings to protect newly allowing them to spray larger sprouted GM seeds at a doses of herbicides from planes vulnerable time in the development of the seedling—in onto crops engineered to be resistant to the particular particular, the widespread application of a relatively new _ herbicide.” class of systemic insecticides, the neonicotinoids (including imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and — Health concerns with GM plants several others), which are highly toxic to insects, Leaving aside the issue of the sustenance of bees and including bees, at very low concentrations. other environmental fall-outs, the health impact of GM In his paper "Requiem for the Honeybee","" Cummins crops is also questionable. For instance, some humans has quoted multiple studies suggesting that imidacloprid are already known to be allergic to the pollen in honey is harmful to honey bee colonies. For instance, scientists | produced from conventional crops. Now imagine the led by the National Institute of Beekeeping in Bologna, health risk that would ensue if the new protein Italy, found that pollen obtained from seeds dressed with introduced into GM crops, which is also found in the imidacloprid contained significant levels of the — pollen they produce, made its way into the honey made insesticide; they suggested that the polluted pollen was _ by bees ingesting this pollen.” What emerges is that one of the main causes of honey bee colony collapse."* _ there is a strong possibility that introducing a foreign An analysis of maize and sunflower crops, originating gene into a food plant may create a new allergen or cause from seeds dressed with imidacloprid, indicated that an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. large amounts of the insecticide were carried back to To put it into perspective, this issue should be honey bee colonies.’ Sub-lethal doses of imidaclopridin considered in the light of the large number of children in sucrose solution were found to affect the homing and the USA and Europe who have developed life-threatening foraging activities of honey bees: those fed with 500 or allergies to peanuts and other foods. Under normal 1,000 ppb of the insecticide failed to return to the hive —_ circumstances, consumers manage food allergies by and disappeared altogether, while bees that imbibed a avoiding foods they know will cause allergic reactions. 100 ppb solution were delayed for 24 hours as compared _—_ But when it comes to genetically engineered foods, it is with control bees.” Imidacloprid in sucrose solution fed too much to expect that each product containing a GM Certainly, honey bees are declining in areas where mis GM crops are widely grown and also in areas mig ~ where GM crops are released in small test plots. Health concerns with GM plants Leaving aside the issue of the sustenance of bees and other environmental fall-outs, the health impact of GM crops is also questionable. For instance, some humans are already known to be allergic to the pollen in honey produced from conventional crops. Now imagine the health risk that would ensue if the new protein introduced into GM crops, which is also found in the pollen they produce, made its way into the honey made by bees ingesting this pollen.” What emerges is that there is a strong possibility that introducing a foreign gene into a food plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. To put it into perspective, this issue should be considered in the light of the large number of children in the USA and Europe who have developed life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods. Under normal circumstances, consumers manage food allergies by avoiding foods they know will cause allergic reactions. But when it comes to genetically engineered foods, it is too much to expect that each product containing a GM 24 * NEXUS DECEMBER 2009 - JANUARY 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com