Stopping GE Eucalyptus Trees
Center for Food Safety successfully challenged USDA’s approval of genetically engineered eucalyptus tree field trials, warning that GE tree plantations could threaten biodiversity, water resources, native forests, and ecosystems.
Case Overview
Center for Food Safety works to stop the commercial release and open-air testing of genetically engineered trees, including ArborGen’s genetically engineered eucalyptus trees.
These GE eucalyptus trees were engineered to tolerate freezing temperatures in order to greatly expand their growing range. Our concern was that approval of these GE trees could set a precedent for future approval of GE forest trees such as poplar and pine.
In 2010, CFS and allies sued USDA over the agency’s approval of field trials for genetically engineered “cold-tolerant” eucalyptus trees across the American South. CFS argued that USDA failed to adequately assess the environmental risks of GE trees, including contamination of wild relatives, spread of invasive traits, increased monoculture plantations, threats to biodiversity, high water use, and wildfire risks.
Timeline and Significance
In 2010, USDA approved widespread field trials of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees across multiple southern states, prompting CFS and allies to challenge the decision in court alongside a coalition of conservation and legal organizations. We argued that USDA approved the permit with minimal environmental review despite serious, foreseeable risks.
In 2013, we released Genetically Engineered Trees: The New Frontier of Biotechnology, a major report warning that GE tree plantations could accelerate chemical-intensive monocultures and threaten forests, water, biodiversity, and communities.
In 2017, over 250,000 people and 500 organizations submitted comments rejecting the commercialization of ArborGen Inc.’s genetically engineered (GE) eucalyptus trees which would have been the first-ever GE forest tree approved in the U.S.
CFS continues our opposition of commercial approval of GE eucalyptus and other trees, arguing that trees pose unique long-term risks because they live for decades, spread pollen and seeds over long distances, and can pass engineered traits into wild ecosystems.
Because of our legal, policy, science, and grassroots advocacy, there is still no GE trees approved for commercial growth in the U.S.
Key Issues
GE eucalyptus plantations could expand large-scale monocultures that reduce biodiversity, displace native ecosystems, and function more like industrial plantations than forests. Eucalyptus is non-native and known to become invasive which also threatens to displace native species.
Eucalyptus plantations use large amounts of water, reduce stream flow, lower water tables, and increase wildfire risks because of flammable leaf litter and bark.
Because trees live for many years and spread pollen and seeds over long distances, escaped engineered traits could persist in wild ecosystems and create long-term, difficult-to-reverse harms.
