Son of Terminator: Novartis' New "Traitor" Seed Patent
Sows Controversy

Web Note: This is an example of the new post-Terminator"Traitor" technology
being developed by genetic engineering companies to enable them to gain
monopoly control over seeds and to sell more of their companies' toxic
chemicals. In this case Novartis is patenting a gene-altered seed with its
immune system crippled which would have to be doused by their company's
chemicals in order to survive and mature. Of course once this type of plant
is released into the environment, the results could be disastrous.

From The Observer, London UK 8 October
Gene scientists disable plants' immune system
Antony Barnett, Public affairs editor
Sunday October 8, 2000

Scientists working for Swiss food giant Novartis have developed and
patented a method for 'switching off' the immune systems of plants, to the
outrage of environmentalists and Third World charities who believe the new
technology to be the most dangerous use so far of gene modification.

Patents filed by Novartis, manufacturers of Ovaltine, reveal that its
scientists expect to be able to use the radical biotechnology for almost
every crop on Earth.

Novartis claims that the new use of genetic modification will give farmers
greater control over disease and boost production. But critics insist that
it will make Third World farmers dependent on buying the company's
chemicals each year to produce healthy harvests.

A spokeswoman for Novartis said: 'We are trying to help farmers, not hinder
them. We are looking at ways to improve the way plants fight disease.'

She agreed that the company had discovered a way of genetically modifying
crops so that their immune systems were disabled, but stressed that this
was for 'research purposes' only.

The process involves transferring a single DNA molecule, described by the
firm as the 'NIM gene', to the plant. This gene then reacts with the
plant's immune system, allowing it to be switched on selectively by the use
of chemicals when disease threatens. But the patent also describes plants
where the entire immune system has been switched off, making them highly
prone to disease.

Environmentalists fear the new technology could have a disastrous
ecological impact if crops with their immune systems suppressed are allowed
to cross-pollinate with surrounding plant life. The use of GM technology,
which uses chemicals to activate genetic traits, was specifically condemned
by the UN earlier this year. It recommended that the technology should not
be field-tested and called for a moratorium on its development until the
impact had been fully assessed.

The patent documents seen by The Observer suggest that Novartis intends to
use the new GM technology on 'barley, cucumber, tobacco, rice, chilli,
wheat, banana and tomato'.

The company cites an extensive list of more than 80 crops, including
several cereals, dozens of fruit such as apples, pears and strawberries,
vegetables like beans and lentils, and cash crops like cotton and tea.

Alex Wijeratna of Action Aid, a development charity that works with farmers
in developing countries, said: 'We find it extremely frightening that such
a powerful multi-national is working on this type of technology, which
seems aimed at protecting their profits by threatening the rights of poor
farmers.'

Dr Sue Mayer, director of Gene Watch, said: 'These companies should halt
development of these potentially dangerous products until there has been a
proper assessment of whether they are good for agriculture.'

On Wednesday, the shareholders of Novartis and biotechnology giant Astra
Zeneca will vote on whether to merge and create the world's largest GM
company.