Activists wrap GMO Testing Field with Plastic

Twenty Greenpeace activists wrapped a testing field with sprouts of the company Bejo Zaden in Schoorldam with (pvc-free) plastic. A banner with the text "Inpakken en wegwezen" and "Geen genetische vervuiling" or 'Pack your stuff and leave' and "no genetic pollution" made it clear that Greenpeace would like to see the tests with genetic engineered crops end. The manipulated cabbage or (Brussels) sprouts on the field in Schoorldam is manipulated in such a way that in every cell the insecticide GNA lectine is produced. This venom is meant to keep the crop free of lice and caterpillars, but at the same time it is killing ladybirds and other useful insects. And these insects have now become a poisonous food source for birds as well. According to Greenpeace genetic engineering has disastrous consequences for the environment. GMO crops will cross-over with other crops in nearby fields or even 'wild' plants. The unnatural genetic code is hereby uncontrollable released into the wild. The testing field in Schoorldam is just one of the many testing fields in the Netherlands. The ministry of VROM (Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Millieubeheer) has granted 70 permits. Every permit can allow more than 10 testing fields, with a surface of about 1500 acres.