A Brief History of Genetically Engineered Trees

By Sarah Harrison

Even the introduction of non-GE tree monocultures has been proven to have an incredibly damaging effect on local eco-systems and communities. Eucalyptus trees are already considered to be an invasive species in Florida and California and have a whole host of associated problems due their flammability and high demand for water.

Despite all the evidence, the USDA continues to support development of these and other GE trees, so what are the links between the multinational companies and the regulatory bodies that are supposed to protect the environment? With ArborGen's pending controversial application to the USDA to grow flowering GE Eucalyptus trees in commercial plantations across the US it seems appropriate to have a look at the history of GE field trials across the globe and the regulation (or lack of it) that has been in place over the last 20 years.

Early GE Trials

The first field trials of GE trees were started in Belgium in 1988 when researchers began to develop GE Poplars which were genetically modified to be resistant to herbicides. By 1999 the Biotech nightmare was a reality with multinationals such as Monsanto, International Paper, Fletcher Challenge Forests and the Westvaco Corporation supporting GE tree trials at over 116 sites in 17 countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, UK, USA and Uruguay.

The first trees to get the GE treatment were the fast growing varieties such as Eucalyptus, Poplars and Pines with the intention to produce crops that were herbicide and/or insect resistant, faster growing and produced higher yields for the timber and pulp industries.  Naturally all of these tendencies would result in higher profit margins for the companies that were investing in them rather than enhanced benefit to the environment.


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Could Eucalyptus Trees be the Kudzu of the 2010s?

Global Justice Ecology Project, August 25, 2010
Straight to the Source

There was a time in the South whenplanting kudzu was not viewed as botanical vandalism, but as acommunity-spirited gesture. The vine, imported from Asia, was intendedto control erosion and provide forage for livestock.

Some things just don't work out.

Todaykudzu is an invasive pest throughout the South, where it can grow up toa foot a day. It smothers trees, houses and if you move too slowly itmight even smother you. Pretty much the only thing that will eat amature kudzu vine is goats. If you lack goats, eradicating it takesyears of herbicidal dousing.

Whichleads us to a muddle-headed idea from an S.C.-based company: to plant330 acres of eucalyptus trees genetically modified to withstand coldweather. The idea is that the tree, native to Australia, could be usedcommercially to make paper and as fuel for power plants. TheSummerville, S.C.-based ArborGen, says the hybrid it would use can'teasily reproduce.

Peoplethought kudzu was a good idea, too. The problem of invasive plants isgrowing as fast as, well, you know. It's not just kudzu. Have you evertried to get rid of wisteria gone wild? Japanese honeysuckle, Englishivy or privet?

The majorharm from invasive plants isn't that they're landscaping annoyances;it's that they crowd out and smother native species. That means birdsand other animals that rely on those native plants die out, too. Awhole ecosystem fails.

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