London (15.11.07) – You wouldn’t actually think that from the news reports which, as usual, stressed the minority position that three million had signed.

So what happened with the 94.8% who did not sign? Did they not agree? Did they now know about it? Could they not be bothered? We shall probably never know because the petition was organised by an anti-GM lobby group and it would hardly be in their interest to give the game away. The petition organisers claimed: "This isn't 'technophobia'. We want a strictly scientific approach, we want more research." If that’s what they want, why do they totally and persistently ignore masses of scientific research already published? Judge for yourself what their reasons and agendas might be.

The Italian group is not the only one. The UK consumer magazine Which? did something similar, though not so blatantly. They reported that 61% agreed they were “concerned about GM in food production”; no headlines about the 56% who weren’t. Same thing for the 58% who “try [only try, mind you] to avoid GM foods and ingredients”. What about the 42% who did not so try?

That is not all the recent GM news bending in Italy. Yesterday saw a news release about an Italian field trial favourable to Bt-maize the results of which were not exactly suppressed but definitely buried.

The trial showed not only a higher yield with lower inputs but, very significantly, a marked reduction in corn borer attack which would reduce maize vulnerability to infection by fungi. Fungal infection generates a consequent risk to humans or animals from the very powerful mycotoxins which are produced. Best to hide all that, it seems.

Sources:

1. Three million Italians sign anti-GM petition. AFP (14.11.07) (http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ilYy-BSyF-ciEmZqLEElugFoX5pg)

2. No to GM. Which? (September 2004), page 9.

3. Italian field trial results suppressed. Public Research & Regulation Initiative (13.11.07)
(http://www.pubresreg.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=408)

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