GMO

GMO means Genetically Modified organisms. Today, Genetically Modified crops are grown on just 2.4% of agricultural land and do not yield more than their conventional equivalents according to a prestigious report [1] written by 400 scientists and endorsed by 60 countries. They were so unconvinced about the ability of GM crops to meet future food needs that the GM industry, which had helped to fund the process from the start, pulled out. To date, there is no GM drought or salt tolerant crops, or GM crops producing a new generation of cheap pharmaceuticals and the lobbyists of Biotech companies seem to be focussing more on gaining a commercial foothold in International patents rather than a concern for human wellbeing.

some history of public concerns

Back in 1998, a World in Action programme exposed the alarming findings of the Rowett Institute in Aberdeen, whose research suggested that GM potatoes could impair the growth and damage the immune system of rats. The giver of that interview, Dr. Árpád Pusztai, whose findings they were, then quickly had his computer and research findings confiscated by the Institute. It later was revealed that this drastic reaction was triggered by international political intervention at the highest level.

Unconvincing responses to basic questions of health and safety led to public opposition in Britain. Issues to do with how far pollen travels, the effects of transgenic DNA in the human gut and to what extent GM crops would cross pollinate with wild species where not answered resulting in two thirds of the British population demonstrating that they did not want to eat GM food. Across Europe, there were calls for tighter regulations for assessments of health, environment risk and traceability and labelling of GM in the food chain. The 1998 labelling laws made food manufacturers, retailers and restaurants label any GM containing ingredients.

Public opinion was having an impact in supermarkets which bowed to their pressure by removing GM food from their shelves. More than 120 organisations formed a coalition to keep GM out of Europe whilst others took more direct action, pulling up GM test crops from the ground for which several juries decided that the protesters action was justified and so were found to be not guilty. Public opinion continued to be against GM trials and when the Government gave permission in 2000 for selected GM seeds to be added to the National Seed List in the UK, there were over 200 submissions or written and oral evidence objecting to T25 maize. Expert evidence exposed the poor science behind the EU decision to approve T25 maize so the process stalled for a while. It was clear that the public, over 85%, did not want commercialisation of GM crop technology without further trials, tests, regulation, a demonstration of the benefits to society rather than the producers and clear and trusted answers to the questions of health and the environment.

GM has been confined to a few commodity crops including soya, maize, oilseed rape and cotton, most of which are used for animal feed, the rest for bio fuels and processed in countries where there is no labelling

what of the future?

After years of debate and public opposition, the UK government alone continues to back agricultural biotechnology, investing £50 million a year compared to the £2 million for organic agricultural research. Governments are supporting GM technology it would seem because it provides an opportunity to make money whilst other techniques and knowledge have being ignored and underfunded. Feeding an ever expanding global population in a changing climate will need to draw on all the techniques available to us, but surely we need to take our time to make sure that we use all the evidence gathered to make sure that we find a safe and sustainable way to feed populations rather than rushing to fill the pockets of the few who are the GM advance guard.

Organic agriculture does not permit the use of GM seeds which is very important, especially since conventionally grown cotton is mostly genetically modified. You can avoid GM by choosing organic cotton.