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| Field of corn. By Hugho226 (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons |
Having finally admitted that its 'Bt'
insecticidal crops, designed to kill 'western corn rootworm' have reached the
end of their shelf-life due to evolving resistance, Monsanto has found another
GM way to kill this major pest.
The Company has applied for regulatory
approval for a new GM corn which produces a gene-altering agent, referred to
generically as 'iRNA'. Insecticidal iRNA
is designed to kill insects by shutting down one of their vital genes.
Scientists have already voiced concerns
about this technology because it is based on the assumption that the target
genetic sequence to be silenced is unique to the pest , and that reactions to
iRNA in food aren't possible. Neither of
these assumptions is scientifically valid [1,2]. This makes putting copious artificial iRNA
into the field and food chain the most health-threatening GM adventure yet.
The novel, novel corn is expected to be on
the market by the end of the decade and
will be sold as “SmartStax Pro”. (COMMENT Presumably this means it will have a whole
set of genes for Bt proteins and for resistance to various herbicides besides
the iRNA. Nice cocktail for the pot.)
Monsanto is also finally admitting that the
Roundup resistant superweeds it has created by pushing farmers into
ever-increasing applications of a single herbicide on their GM crops has
reached the end of its tether. The
Company is busy developing a novel spray designed to kill superweeds. Its tactic is to deluge intransigent weeds with
an iRNA-containing formula which silences the weeds' newly evolved Roundup-resistance
genes. There is, of course, the added
benefit that farmers can continue use Roundup on their crops, and Monsanto can
continue to reap the profits from its best-selling herbicide.
Put another way, Monsanto's novel spray
contains iRNA designed to penetrate into living cells and interfere with the
function of genomes.
Is it likely to work? Possibly, but in a limited
way, because weeds have evolved quite a variety of sneaky genetic ways to
resist Roundup [3], and such a tactic won't work for long, because weeds are
just too clever at changing their genes.
Is it likely to be safe for the
environment or for us? The likelihood of
unpredictable cross-reactions with non target genes suggests no.
Will it make a big profit for Monsanto? Yes, pesticides are a huge
money spinner even if they're destined inevitably to fall apart.
A more unusual avenue for Monsanto's GM
skills is the current development of iRNA to kill the mites which are
destroying our honey bees. This may be a
useful diversion from the suspicion that its Bt crops and agrichemicals are
contributing to bee colony collapse [4].
However, bee keepers aren't sold on the idea
“To attempt to use this technology at this current stage of understanding would be more naïve than our use of DDT in the 1950s” (US National Honey Bee Advisory Board).
“To attempt to use this technology at this current stage of understanding would be more naïve than our use of DDT in the 1950s” (US National Honey Bee Advisory Board).
OUR COMMENT
The National Honey Bee Advisory Board has
said it all.
Perhaps you could repeat this point to the
EU and UK regulators, just in case they're feeling a bit naïve about the risks
of iRNA.
Background:
[1]
RNA MODIFIED FOOD - July 2013
[2]
dsRNA IN THE FIELD IS BAD NEWS - August 2013
[3]
WEEDS HAVE TRICKS UP THEIR SLEEVES - (Online document link) GMFS ARCHIVE - February 2010
[4]
HONEYBEES AND TOXIC GM SEEDS - News, February 2012
SOURCE:
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