US will Only Support Use of Fungal Agent Under Certain Conditions
O Estado de S. Paulo
September 16, 2000
The possibility that Colombia might use the fungus Fusarium oxysporum to destroy cocaine plantations as part of the Colombia Plan has sparked international outcries from scientific and environmentalist sectors. The strong negative reaction has forced the United States government, which developed the fungus variety to kill coca plants - to repeatedly clarify its position on the matter. The official word from the White House is that the United States will only support the use of the fungus under three very specific conditions: firstly, the fungus would have to be thoroughly tested in Colombia, taking the utmost in safety precautions, to find out if the fungus is safe and superior in effectiveness to any currently employed herbicidal agent; secondly, the possible impact on national security would have to be evaluated, in relation to the proliferation of biological weapons and terrorism; and finally, the Colombian government would have to be completely agreed with the use of the fungus. While it is possible that the fungus may be used in future, so far there is enough antagonism towards the fungus that it seems highly unlikely.