Other researchers 'mildly to highly frustrated by the lack of evidence'

By SEAN ELLIS

Capital Press

MELBA, Idaho -- Testing that could provide evidence to support a researcher's claims that Roundup Ready technology is responsible for the proliferation of an alleged microscopic organism causing plant diseases and livestock abortions is still at least a month away.

A glitch in the effort to sequence DNA data about the previously unknown organism and clearly identify its characteristics has delayed evidence to support the claims by retired Purdue University professor Don Huber, who sent an alarming letter about Roundup Ready technology to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in January 2011.

He claimed the technology behind some genetically modified crops could lead to a "general collapse of our critical agriculture infrastructure."

The lack of supporting evidence, and his reluctance to identify other scientists on his team and laboratories working on the project, has led to skepticism from other researchers.

Huber, professor emeritus of plant pathology at Purdue, said he understands the criticism and he and his team are working hard to ready the evidence for peer review. But he said the data must be sequenced first.

Huber said a U.S. laboratory that was supposed to sequence the DNA data backed out, citing unspecified safety concerns. He said the DNA has now been taken to a well-recognized genetics laboratory outside the U.S.

Huber said the sequencing process would normally take four to six weeks, though he declined to speculate on when it might be ready.

"Once we get the sequencing complete, I think everything will fit into place very well," he said. "That's a critical need and we're pushing to get that just as fast as we can. It's coming. It's hard to push science any faster than we can get the information."

In his letter to Vilsack, Huber claimed a team of top scientists has found a new organism linked to Roundup Ready technology.

Huber claimed the organism is prolific in plants infected with sudden death syndrome in soybeans and Goss' wilt in corn and lab tests have confirmed its presence in a wide variety of livestock that have experienced spontaneous abortions and infertility.

While the organism is found naturally in the soil, he said, it's found in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready corn and soybeans, suggesting a link to the Roundup Ready gene.

He asked the USDA to declare a moratorium on the further deregulation of crops genetically modified to resist glyphosate herbicides -- which are sold under the trade name Roundup by Monsanto -- until the Roundup Ready system is exonerated by further research.

He warned Vilsack that further approval of Roundup Ready crops "could lead to a calamity."

Monsanto officials have declined to speak to the media about the claims but have denied them in a statement.

Paul Vincelli, a plant pathology professor at the University of Kentucky who has reviewed some of the research on the topic, said Huber is a top-notch professor with solid credentials. But, Vincelli added, until Huber releases evidence that can be scrutinized by other researchers, he and other scientists will continue to be skeptical.

"He has a wonderful history of scientific contribution," Vincelli said about Huber, who has authored or co-authored more than 300 journal articles and studied natural and human-caused biological threats for the U.S. military.

If the evidence does show there is something to Huber's claims, Vincelli said he will be the first to promote the need for more research.

"I have doubts about the claims," he said. "It doesn't mean it's not true. I'm just waiting for the evidence."

During a meeting of plant pathologists in San Antonio last week, the subject of the allegedly harmful microfungus came up several times, Vincelli said.

"It was very clear everybody at the table ranged from mildly to highly frustrated by the lack of evidence," he said. "Until we see the evidence ... we will continue to have doubts."

Huber has declined to release the names of his fellow researchers because he's concerned political pressure and intimidation could result in the research being halted. But he said he is coordinating his research with scientists and doctors in seven European countries "and none of us feels comfortable with what we're seeing. There is a very serious scenario on the horizon."