Decontamination of GE Field trial

Mon, 24 Jan 2005

Decontamination of GE Field trial

Field trial site of direct action From: The People's Moratorium Enforcement Agency

'The field trials of GE trees in Rotorua at the Forest Research Institute campus will be the target of a People's Moratorium Enforcement Agency (PMEA) action on the weekend of January 29-31' says spokeswoman Felicity Perry.

'This field trial is an affront to every New Zealander who values our native flora and fauna: from the kiwi to kauri and beyond. The field trial is a serious risk as a result of the use of self-replicating viruses, antibiotic marker genes (which spead resistance to antibiotics), horizontal gene transfer in the soil, and contamination through the wind.'

'This trial is not like a field of onions or corn: it is due to last twenty years and thereby makes the likelihood of irreversible genetic contamination highly likely. Scientists at FRI simply do not know what the long term impacts of these trials are on fragile NZ ecosystems.'

Two types of trees are being modified: pine and spruce. The trial seeks to modify the trees for herbicide resistance and reproductive traits.

The weekend of action starts on Saturday, January 30. For a full schedule of events and background information, please see the webpage of the People's Moratorium Enforcement Agency, http://www.pmea.org.nz

ENDS

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