For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page and our Florida News page.
Statement from Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food Water Watch

“The
Florida Keys Mosquito Control District meets tomorrow to discuss the
application from British firm Oxitec to release genetically engineered
mosquitoes in the Florida Keys.

“We cannot stress strongly enough
how dangerously misguided this application is. Oxitec hopes to use the
neighborhoods and precious ecosystem of the Keys as their private,
for-profit laboratory. The shame of it is, the company has no evidence
the GE mosquitoes will even work in their stated aim of controlling
Dengue fever. This feels much more like Oxitec testing its living,
breeding technology than a serious attempt to control disease, and the
people of Florida deserve protection.

“The Max Planck Institute
for Evolutionary Biology in Germany said in February that the ‘risk
assessment’ conducted in advance of the release of Oxitec’s GE
mosquitoes in another country has been ‘scientifically deficient’ and
made ‘questionable pivotal scientific assertion[s]’. This is simply not
good enough, and we strongly urge the Food and Drug Administration to
decline the application.

“We are also aware that Oxitec is hoping
to conduct a similar outdoor experiment in the UK next year with their
GE version of the diamondback moth, which attacks crops like cabbage,
broccoli, cauliflower and rapeseed (canola). What impacts will such an
experiment have on the birds that eat the moth? What happens to people
if they inadvertently eat eggs this GE insect lays on the crop? How will
they get the insects back if something goes wrong?

“There are
better, safer ways to control Dengue and agricultural pests – we don’t
need expensive GE insects. Oxitec badly needs FDA approval to keep their
finances flowing. This is why the company downplays any concerns
raised, but those concerns are still there and growing with time. The
Federal Government must step in and prevent this unnecessary and risky
trial.”

Read the issue brief on GE mosquitoes: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/briefs/genetically-engineered-mosquitoes/

Details on the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District town hall meeting to be held on March 15, 5:30p.m. EST: http://www.keysmosquito.org/

Contact: Anna Ghosh, 415-239-9905, aghosh(at)fwwatch(dot)org