Brussels, 21 August 1998 --- Scientific research to be published next week confirms earlier findings which point to potential environmental damage from genetically engineered corn. The Swiss research confirms that useful predatory insects could suffer from the use of genetically engineered crops. Greenpeace called on the European Commission to ban controversial Bt-crops immediately.

The results to be published on August 25 in the Journal of Environmental Entomology (1) confirm preliminary findings published in April this year. When Greenpeace provided the European Commission with this information, the Commission responded that further research was needed to assess its significance. "Now the evidence is in and it is time for the Commission to take action to ban Bt-Crops," said Greenpeace expert Isabelle Meister. "It is incredible that such basic studies are only conducted after approval of the product. The companies should have conducted these experiments first and the Commission should have requested this information before approving it."

The new study shows that after eating Bt-toxin similar to that found in a Novartis corn the mortality rate of lacewing larvae increased significantly. Lacewing larvae, which are also know as "aphid lions" for their appetite for aphids and other soft bodied insects, play an import role in equilibrium of insect populations. They are also important for organic farming pest control strategies. "These findings are frightening news for the whole organic movement and could mean substantial losses for us," said Bernward Geier, the executive director of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). "The destructive impact goes however far beyond organic farming since these crops could affect the equilibrium of natural habitats."

Laboratory feeding studies of the green lacewing with Bt-toxin from transgenic organisms showed that the immature mortality of the green lacewing was significantly higher (57%) than in the untreated control group (30%) (1). This study confirms the previous findings (2) which showed almost a doubling of the mortality rate in lacewing larvae which had eaten pests fed with Novartis corn. Novartis Bt-corn is being grown for the first time this year in Europe, in France (about 1,500 hectares) and Spain (about 10,000 hectares).

More information:
Isabelle Meister, Greenpeace International, +41-144 74 195 Mika Railo, Greenpeace International Press Desk, Amsterdam, +31-20-5249 548 Bernward Geier, IFOAM, +49-6853-5190

Note to editors:
In the new study the lacewing larvae was fed with purified Bt-toxin produced by genetically engineered E.coli -bacteria. The bacteria produces toxin similar to that found in Novartis corn. Novartis transgenic corn contains a gene from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) which triggers the production of a toxic substance. Transgenic crops produce the Bt-toxin continuously in high quantities and is a different form than they naturally occur.

References:

1. Hilbeck,A., Moar W.J., Pusztai-Carey M., Filippini A. and Bigler F. (1998) Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis CryIAb Toxin to the Predator Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Environmental Entomology, Vol. 27, no. 4, August.
2. Hilbeck,A., Baumgartner, M., Fried, P.M. & Bigler, F. (1998) Effects of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis corn-fed prey on mortality and development time of immature Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopiae). Environmental Entomology, Vol. 27, no. 2, p 480-487).