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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)


Britain's farmland is already as rich in species as anywhere in the world. The development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) in animal foodstuffs, maize, sugar beet and oil seed rape was apparently aimed to increase this biodiversity and help farmers to produce, healthier, disease-free crops.

What most of the general public is concerned with is, not "the new-ness" of the technology, but seeing the basic ingredients of life, brought under the control of multinationals. Without adequate research as to long-term implications to the food chain, there is a natural suspicion that the purpose is to promote commercial gain.

Monsanto et al claim that there is no risk to the human food chain. No scientist (or politician) worth their salt can claim that this technology is "risk free". The British experiences with BSE and Edwina Currie's eggs are still too raw in our memories! Questions about the long-term effects of GMO's on animals or humans have not been answered. As far as we know no scientific studies have been done on these issues.

However, research published on October 16, 2003 showed little or no discernable benefits to the farmer of trial GM crops. Two of the three species needed atrazine in large quantities, a herbicide now banned. Because there were fewer weeds and seeds there was significant damage to the wild life and to the environment in general.

Further the research demonstrated extensive hybridisation (cross-contamination) between cultivated, GMO oilseed rape and adjacent populations of feral rape and related wild turnip. One planting of oilseed rape contaminated plantings of non-GM rape with the prospects of lasting at least 16 years, making it impossible for conventional and organic farming to survive.

Some GMO's are apparently "sterile". (GMO Products-Approved
Under directive 90/220/EEC; March 2000) yet no-one seems to have considered how this could affect future crops in the long term. Monsanto et al, of course, will be there to sell the poor farmers more of their seeds!

Future generations of GM crops might offer tangible benefits, not just for the farmer, but also for the consumer. There are other biotechnologies that are not so radical or intrusive (genetic marker selection, genomic and proteinomics). The scientific protocol behind these technologies is much more rigorous and subject to long-term studies.

The UK Independence Party will be keeping a watching brief especially as the EU has directed that their should be "no GM-free Zones" in Europe. Monsanto is apparently pulling out of GB and Europe but there are still GM interests - Lord Sainsbury in Britain, Synergie, Ciba-Geigy, Florigene (carnations!), SEITA(tobacco) and many others. The EU policy appears to be that if the dangers of GMOs cannot be demonstrated, then they are considered to be safe. This is in complete contrast to the EU policy on food supplements where the producer has to prove safety before the product can be put on the market. Note that the winners in both cases are the lobby-friendly big corporations, and the losers are the small, independents.