NOAH Gene-technology group


We work towards ensuring that biotechnology is developed, used and applied in an environmentally conscious way. 

The goal is to be achieved through producing information materials, encouraging debate in the public and the media, participating in relevant meetings and hearings, and more. 

In our group we also work closely with Friends of the Earth Europe within the European GMO-Campaign.

Our group has launched two websites: GlobaleGener.dk and GenDebat.dk (both in Danish)

We have also produced the magazine 'Pandora's Luncbox - The Wonderful World of Genetechnology', a 28-page educational magazine in English. It can be obtained from our office at tel. +45 3536 1212.


The issue

The existing knowledge concerning the environmental aspects of production and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is limited. Uncertainty is great, in that the risk evaluation is often built upon scientific estimations and guesswork rather than concrete knowledge. Researchers at Risø National Laboratory have shown that resistant genes (resistant to certain herbicides such as Roundup) spliced into agricultural crops can be transferred to weeds and thereby make the weeds resistant - possibly creating so-called "super-weeds". Similarly, many experiments have shown that antibiotic resistance can be passed with ease onto other natural bacterial strains. This could possibly result in bacteria that cause sickness, such as Salmonella, to be resistant to available antibiotics.


Our policy

Our group differentiates between GMOs used in "closed" and "open" systems. One example where GMOs are used in closed systems is the production of enzymes or medicine using genetically modified micro-organisms in a laboratory or factory where a procedure for killing the organisms (boiling/chemical) is used before they are released into the open environment. An example where GMOs are used in an open system is the cultivation of transgenic (genespliced) crops in agriculture. We are principally against the use of GMOs in open systems, in other words, the release of GMOs into nature. Why we are against is because we consider that this form of biological pollution could potentially be catastrophic in the long-term for the environment and the consequences wouldn’t be balanced by any benefits.
 
NOAH's Gene-technology group is against the release, whether deliberately or accidentally, of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment.


What to consider

The term biotechnology covers a wide spectrum of techniques involving genetics e.g. from enzyme production by genetically modified bacteria to the cloning of animals. Therefore the environmental concerns differ greatly depending on which area one focuses upon. To evaluate whether a given form of biotechnology is environmentally sound or not, we think the following questions should be considered:

- Is the system open or closed?

- Is there a risk to the environment or nature, even unintentionally?

- Is there a risk to human health and/or animals?

- Is it ethically acceptable?

- Is it truly needed?

An example: Are there any unwanted long-term effects of the cultivation of genetically modified corn on the environment (is it open or closed)? Could the consumption of GM-corn be detrimental to human health? Is there actually a need for GM-corn other than to make money? Is it ethically acceptable to manipulate the plants genetic makeup?
 
 
How to contact us

NOAH-Genteknologi
Nørrebrogade 39
DK-2200 Copenhagen N
Denmark

Phone: +45 35 36 12 12
Fax: +45 35 36 12 17
E-mail: noah@noah.dk

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NOAH-Genteknologi April 26 2002