Izaak Walton League Resolution (May 1, 2005)

The resolution passed unanimously on May 1, 2005 in Austin MN, at the Annual Meeting of the Corporation of the Minnesota Division, Izaak Walton League of America and is duly recorded in the meeting minutes.

Resolution to support prohibiting the introduction of Genetically Engineered Wild Rice into the state of Minnesota

Whereas natural wild rice is of extreme ecological importance to Minnesota lakes, rivers, and wildlife, providing important habitat and sustenance for migrating waterfowl and aquatic life,

Whereas natural wild rice is also of great importance to Minnesotans, and is a sacred part of the religion of the Anishinaabeg people,

Whereas Minnesota is the center of biodiversity for naturally occurring lake and river wild rice,

Whereas Risk Assessment regarding the introduction of genetically engineered organisms into the environment is in its infancy, and there are many potential environmental impacts from the release of Genetically Engineered Organisms including: 1) gene flow to related taxa, 2) creation of more invasive (weedy or pest) species, 3) non-target interactions (e.g., transfer of pharmaceuticals to wildlife foraging in crop fields), 4) evolution of resistance, 5) changes in viruses, and 6) horizontal gene flow ( i.e., to unrelated taxa),

Whereas the risk of exposure is extremely high, as genetically engineered wild rice could easily cross-pollinate with native strains of wild rice and the potential for cross-pollination is high; for instance, one study found the pollen of GM creeping bentgrass traveled farther than 13 miles from the release site,

Whereas some of the harms from release of GM wild rice could include: 1) loss of unique genetic resources, 2) decline in abundance of the species, 3) displacement of other species of aquatic plants through improved competitive fitness of wild rice, and 4) decline in resilience of the biological community (in this case Minnesota lakes and rivers).

Now therefore be it resolved, that the Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League of America supports legislation prohibiting the introduction of genetically engineered wild rice in Minnesota, in order to protect Natural Lake and River stands of wild rice.