Excellent New Book on GE Foods & Crops

PRESS RELEASE ON THE BOOK:

Special Report on the Risks and
Unreliability of Genetically Engineered Crops

Food First Releases a Special Report on the
Risks and Unreliability of Genetically
Engineered Crops:

Genetic Engineering in Agriculture: The
Myths, Environmental Risks, and Alternatives

Contact: Nick Parker
Tel: (510) 654-4400 (x229)

Oakland, CA -- Genetically engineered crops
cost more and produce less, are
environmentally risky, and may eclipse more
affordable and practical alternatives, claims
a new scientific report released by the food
policy think tank, Food First/Institute for
Food and Development Policy.

"Biotechnology companies and associated
scientific bodies are making false promises
that genetic engineering will move
agriculture away from a dependence on
chemical inputs, reduce environmental
problems, and solve world hunger," writes
University of California biologist and author
of the report, Dr. Miguel Altieri. "Such
promises are founded on philosophical and
scientific premises that are fundamentally
flawed, and need to be exposed."

The report documents how genetically
engineered (GE) crops are little more than a
technological band-aid solution to the
environmental problems of agriculture. For
example, insect-resistant GE crops reduce
agricultural problems to single gene
solutions in the same way the Green
Revolution reduced pest control to single
pesticide solutions, overlooking the pest's
ability to develop resistance to these
pesticides. At the same time, these external
chemical inputs are prohibitively expensive
for most farmers in poor countries.

Other findings of the report include:

* Golden Rice is not a viable solution to
Vitamin A deficiency.
* The microbial insecticide Bacillus
thuringeinsus, widely used to fight
pests in organic farming, could be
rendered useless because of its genetic
introduction into GE corn; thus
potentially building resistance in the
pests it is supposed to control.
* In Illinois, genetically modified
herbicide resistant soybean seed and
weed management systems were the most
expensive in modern history, doubling
costs for farmers in three years.

The report advocates for "agroecological"
technologies, developed by farmers, local
governments, and non-profits throughout the
world. These technologies are being eclipsed
by the mad rush to do research on genetic
engineering. The report argues for a major
push to "upscale" these alternatives through
changes in policies, research institutions
and resource allocations.

The report also contains a complete glossary
of terms and a web resource guide on genetic
engineering.

Dr. Miguel Altieri is Professor of Insect
Biology and member of the Center for
Biological Control at the University of
California at Berkeley. He serves as Vice
President of the Board of Trustees of Food
First/Institute for Food and Development
Policy.

Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
Written by Dr. Miguel Altieri
ISBN: 0-935028-84-6
108 pages, $10.00, paperback
Food First Books are distributed by LPC
Group, 1436 West Randolph Street,
Chicago, IL 60607, (800) 243-0138 or - BUY BOOK

For more information or to schedule
interviews contact:
Nick Parker
Media Coordinator, Food First
(510) 654-4400, ext. 229, or email
nparker@foodfirst.org.

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rosset@foodfirst.org
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Peter M. Rosset, Ph.D.
Co-Director
Food First/The Institute for Food and Development Policy
398 60th Street
Oakland, California 94618 USA
tel: +1-510-654-4400 x224 fax: +1-253-295-5257

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