Peasant Leaders Stage Hunger Strike Against Genetically Modified Corn

[AlecBGreen]

4. genetic contamination

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/02/24/2499950.htm

"A team led by Elena Alvarez-Buylla of the National Autonomous University in Mexico City looked at nearly 2000 samples from 100 fields in the region from 2001 and 2004, and found that around 1% of the samples had genes that had jumped from GM varieties.

"We confirmed that there was contamination in 2001 and also found contamination in 2004, which means that it either persisted in the local maize that we sampled or that it was reintroduced, which is less likely," says Alvarez-Buylla."

One could argue that a 1% contamination rate is nothing to get worked up about. In regards to this topic, I am a purist; ANY genetic contamination of heirloom stock is too much. Its like toothpaste - once it gets out, there's no putting it back