Press Release: New Research Reveals Widespread GMO Contamination and Threatsto Local Agriculture From the World's First Commercially Planted GeneticallyEngineered TreeNews Release: Embargo 00:01 September 9 2004Contact: Melanie Bondera, Hawaii GEAN +1 808 640-1643 or Noli Hoye,GMO-Free Kauai +1 808 651-9603New Research Reveals Widespread GMO Contamination and Threats toLocal Agriculture From the World's First Commercially PlantedGenetically Engineered TreeOutraged Farmers, Consumers and Backyard Papaya Growers ReturnContaminated Papayas to the University of Hawaii in Crop DumpHilo, Hawaii -- Independent laboratory testing results released todayreveal widespread contamination from the world's first commerciallyplanted genetically engineered tree, the papaya, on Oahu, the BigIsland, and Kauai. Contamination was also found in the stock ofnon-genetically engineered seeds being sold commercially by theUniversity of Hawaii.Farmers, health professionals, concerned citizens, and University ofHawaii scientists joined GMO-Free Hawaii in announcing the shockingresults of their research at the University of Hawaii, which createdand released the GMO papaya. Dozens of outraged farmers, consumersand backyard growers brought their contaminated papayas back to theuniversity to underscore their demand that UH provide a plan forcleaning up papaya contamination. The campaign also called forliability protection for local growers and the prevention of GMOcontamination of other Hawaiian commodity crops.All samples were tested by Genetic ID, one of the world's leadingscientific laboratories for genetic contamination testing. Compositesamples from the Big Island and Oahu both revealed GMO contamination.Nearly 20,000 papaya seeds from across the Big Island, 80% of whichcame from organic farms and the rest from backyard gardens or wildtrees, showed a contamination level of 50%. Oahu's composite ofpapayas, primarily from organic farms, showed contamination of over5%, and trace levels of contamination were found on an organic farmon Kauai. One package of seed of the Solo Waimanalo papaya, anon-genetically engineered variety purchased directly from theUniversity of Hawaii, also tested positive for GMO contamination."It is an outrage that UH is selling contaminated papaya seeds toour local farmers and growers," said Toi Lahti, an organic farmer andpapaya grower from the Big Island. "Not only could organic farmerslose their certification by growing genetically engineered papayas,GMO papaya seeds are also patented by Monsanto among others. Thisopens farmers to lawsuits for growing GMOs without paying patent feesfirst, even if they planted them without their knowledge.""These tests indicate that UH's non-GMO seed stock is contaminated,and so there can be no doubt that the University must take immediateaction to protect farmers, con sumers and the environment," said MarkQuery of GMO-Free Hawaii. "Papaya contamination is a case study inthe threat that GMO contamination presents to local agriculture. Itis now obvious that coexistence of traditional and GMO crops isimpossible."Farmers raised concerns about the impact the contamination crisiscould have on export markets, particularly to countries like Japanthat have stringent regulations about importing geneticallyengineered crops. "The Big Island is home to most of the commercialGMO papaya fields in the state," said Melanie Bondera, a farmer fromKona and member of the Hawaii Genetic Engineering Action Network."The continued planting of GMO crops risk giving Hawaiian agriculturean undeservedly bad reputation in major export markets around theworld."Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD, MPH, a public health specialist, discussedpotential human health threats posed by the GMO papaya and other GMOfoods, inc luding increased antibiotic resistance and unexpectedallergenic reactions. "All of these concerns are troubling inthemselves, but they would be less worrisome if the GMO mutations didnot spread beyond our intentions. Today's report shows that theydo," Dr. Pang said. "If a health problem arises that is attributableto GMO foods, it will be impossible to recall such a live, dangerousmutation once it has been released into the environment."Dr. Hector Valenzuela, a scientist specializing in tropical cropsfrom UH Manoa's Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences,asserted that the University's focus on promoting genetic engineeringis steering Hawaiian agriculture in the wrong direction. "Instead ofsupporting untested technologies like genetic engineering, theUniversity of Hawaii should redirect their resources to focus onresearching and promoting workable, non-GMO solutions to localagricultural problems. Hawaii farmers need agricultural advancesthat can protect their farms and our state's agricultural economyover the long run."Bondera outlined the campaign being launched by GMO-Free Hawaii basedon these contamination results. "Despite the problems local growershave had with the GMO papaya, the University is now geneticallyengineering taro, pineapple, banana, sugarcane, and other commoditycrops," said Bondera. "The problems with GMO papaya contaminationshow us that there are too many unanswered questions aboutagricultural biotech to be releasing new experimental geneticallyengineered organisms into our environment. Hawaiian farmers want tosee an immediate moratorium on the release of other geneticallyengineered commodity crops, and a commitment from the University tofund research into local, sustainable agriculture."
Press Release: New Research Reveals Widespread GMO Contamination and Threatsto Local Agriculture From the World's First Commercially Planted GeneticallyEngineered TreeNews Release: Embargo 00:01 September 9 2004Contact: Melanie Bondera, Hawaii GEAN +1 808 640-1643 or Noli Hoye,GMO-Free Kauai +1 808 651-9603New Research Reveals Widespread GMO Contamination and Threats toLocal Agriculture From the World's First Commercially PlantedGenetically Engineered TreeOutraged Farmers, Consumers and Backyard Papaya Growers ReturnContaminated Papayas to the University of Hawaii in Crop DumpHilo, Hawaii -- Independent laboratory testing results released todayreveal widespread contamination from the world's first commerciallyplanted genetically engineered tree, the papaya, on Oahu, the BigIsland, and Kauai. Contamination was also found in the stock ofnon-genetically engineered seeds being sold commercially by theUniversity of Hawaii.Farmers, health professionals, concerned citizens, and University ofHawaii scientists joined GMO-Free Hawaii in announcing the shockingresults of their research at the University of Hawaii, which createdand released the GMO papaya. Dozens of outraged farmers, consumersand backyard growers brought their contaminated papayas back to theuniversity to underscore their demand that UH provide a plan forcleaning up papaya contamination. The campaign also called forliability protection for local growers and the prevention of GMOcontamination of other Hawaiian commodity crops.All samples were tested by Genetic ID, one of the world's leadingscientific laboratories for genetic contamination testing. Compositesamples from the Big Island and Oahu both revealed GMO contamination.Nearly 20,000 papaya seeds from across the Big Island, 80% of whichcame from organic farms and the rest from backyard gardens or wildtrees, showed a contamination level of 50%. Oahu's composite ofpapayas, primarily from organic farms, showed contamination of over5%, and trace levels of contamination were found on an organic farmon Kauai. One package of seed of the Solo Waimanalo papaya, anon-genetically engineered variety purchased directly from theUniversity of Hawaii, also tested positive for GMO contamination."It is an outrage that UH is selling contaminated papaya seeds toour local farmers and growers," said Toi Lahti, an organic farmer andpapaya grower from the Big Island. "Not only could organic farmerslose their certification by growing genetically engineered papayas,GMO papaya seeds are also patented by Monsanto among others. Thisopens farmers to lawsuits for growing GMOs without paying patent feesfirst, even if they planted them without their knowledge.""These tests indicate that UH's non-GMO seed stock is contaminated,and so there can be no doubt that the University must take immediateaction to protect farmers, con sumers and the environment," said MarkQuery of GMO-Free Hawaii. "Papaya contamination is a case study inthe threat that GMO contamination presents to local agriculture. Itis now obvious that coexistence of traditional and GMO crops isimpossible."Farmers raised concerns about the impact the contamination crisiscould have on export markets, particularly to countries like Japanthat have stringent regulations about importing geneticallyengineered crops. "The Big Island is home to most of the commercialGMO papaya fields in the state," said Melanie Bondera, a farmer fromKona and member of the Hawaii Genetic Engineering Action Network."The continued planting of GMO crops risk giving Hawaiian agriculturean undeservedly bad reputation in major export markets around theworld."Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD, MPH, a public health specialist, discussedpotential human health threats posed by the GMO papaya and other GMOfoods, inc luding increased antibiotic resistance and unexpectedallergenic reactions. "All of these concerns are troubling inthemselves, but they would be less worrisome if the GMO mutations didnot spread beyond our intentions. Today's report shows that theydo," Dr. Pang said. "If a health problem arises that is attributableto GMO foods, it will be impossible to recall such a live, dangerousmutation once it has been released into the environment."Dr. Hector Valenzuela, a scientist specializing in tropical cropsfrom UH Manoa's Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences,asserted that the University's focus on promoting genetic engineeringis steering Hawaiian agriculture in the wrong direction. "Instead ofsupporting untested technologies like genetic engineering, theUniversity of Hawaii should redirect their resources to focus onresearching and promoting workable, non-GMO solutions to localagricultural problems. Hawaii farmers need agricultural advancesthat can protect their farms and our state's agricultural economyover the long run."Bondera outlined the campaign being launched by GMO-Free Hawaii basedon these contamination results. "Despite the problems local growershave had with the GMO papaya, the University is now geneticallyengineering taro, pineapple, banana, sugarcane, and other commoditycrops," said Bondera. "The problems with GMO papaya contaminationshow us that there are too many unanswered questions aboutagricultural biotech to be releasing new experimental geneticallyengineered organisms into our environment. Hawaiian farmers want tosee an immediate moratorium on the release of other geneticallyengineered commodity crops, and a commitment from the University tofund research into local, sustainable agriculture."
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