www.czu.cz ; www.raupp.info

The scenario is a dark one to be sure and could be considered the equivalent
of the Napa Valley's tsunami: Grapevines being overrun by the saliva from
the feared glassy-winged sharpshooter, effectively destroying an industry.
That's why GMOs -- or genetically modified organisms recombined with the
genes of a vine -- are even being considered as a viable option against
Pierce's disease, January, 2005 by Alan Goldfarb.

But according to several industry sources, the idea of creating a
grapevine that is resistant to the dreaded insect "is not promising."

Further, says another, even if Pierce's (PD) were to overrun Napa Valley,
she might "think about" planting genetically engineered (GE) vines, "but I
might not grow it."

Those were the thoughts and opinions of a couple of panelists as they
addressed the issue of GMOs at an all-day conference at Copia January 13
aptly entitled, "Further Up the Road."

Controversial subject

The confab, sponsored by the Napa Valley Grape Growers Association, laid out
some of the issues of the controversial subject which has already moved
several California jurisdictions to ban or place a moratorium on GE plants.

Genetically modified plants are actually nothing new but they have become
more defined. Currently, the technology applies primarily to such crops as
corn, soybeans, canola, and cotton. But there have been many field trials --
even in California -- of grapes.

But the latter are not commercially available and are experimental at this
point, and most will not come to the marketplace. Even if they do, according
to most experts, GE grapevines are at least 10 to 15 years from becoming
viable.

Important issue here

For the Napa Valley, where growing wine grapes has practically become a
monoculture, the issue is particularly important, especially in light of
figuring out ways to stave off PD.

Might GE grapevines be the answer?

Carole Meredith, who spent 22 years at UC Davis and was instrumental in the
establishment of the International Grape Genome Program, was clear in her
opposition to GE grapevines.

"Why would you want to change your grapes? We might want to do that to solve
a problem," she began, obviously acknowledging the industry's great concern
about PD.

But she continued, "It's unlikely we'll ever see a single gene to combat a
single disease or insect."

Good strategies in place

Meredith, who is the co-owner of the Mt. Veeder brand, Lagier Meredith,
pointed out that "we already have good strategies" to combat some problems
such as resistant rootstocks.

As for PD, Meredith said, "We can try to control the movement of the insect
vector," but conceded "this is an area where using a GMO approach might be a
worthwhile activity."

But when pressed a few minutes later by a query from the audience Meredith
concluded, "Many, many, many consumers in the world don't even want to be in
the same room with a GE vine. So we'll never see a GE vine.

"If someone offered me a GE Syrah vine, I would not do (plant) it. Now, if
PD overran the Napa Valley, I might think about it, but I might not grow
it."

'Nothing brilliant'

She added that unfortunately "with PD, there's nothing brilliant going on,"
as it relates to combating the possible impending problem.

Kim Waddell, the executive director of the American Vineyard Foundation,
which supports research in viticulture and enology for the industry, laid
out the pros and cons of GE.

The Oakville resident said that these plants might be an "opportunity to
improve agriculture on many fronts." But "it's too early to tell" if GE
holds "promise or utility" for wine grape growers, many of whom have adopted
organic practices in recent years.

Regarding PD, Waddell thinks the technology "may indeed provide an option
for controlling" the problem. But he added, "The idea of creating a
grapevine that is resistant to PD is not promising."

And, "if they work, they'll be expensive and getting through the regulatory
process is quite daunting."

'Tool, not solution'

This technology, he offered, "is a tool, not a solution. There is no silver
bullet against disease."

Parenthetical to the subject, but nonetheless a concern that carries import
especially to an industry where varietal differences are critical, is the
notion of altering the look, taste and characteristics of a vinifera grape.

"Is it still Chardonnay?" if it's a genetically modified grape, asked
Meredith. "The presence of a new gene in of itself does not negate a
Chardonnay," but she intimated that it might have to called something else.

Intellectual property rights for the companies that create these new plants
will be held closely, she said.

Seeks GE halt

For Dave Henson, who is a Sonoma County organic farmer, putting a halt to GE
crops is essential. He's the head of a group calling itself "GE-Free Sonoma
County," an organization intent on placing a 10-year moratorium -- not
necessarily a stop -- to what he refers to as "transgenic manipulation."

Mendocino, Marin and Trinity counties have already adopted GE bans. There is
no known organized movement in Napa County to put a halt to these plants.

"It's in our interests in California to put the brakes on GE crops," he
said. "I encourage you to consider -- as this debate rages around the
world -- to put on the brakes for a bit; and that will be value-added for
our products."

[www.wine.co.za]

------------------------------------------
Posted to Phorum via PhorumMail