London (30.11.07)
– On November 13th, CropGen sent the following letter to the European
Voice in respect published the previous week:
“GM crops pose a huge threat”, wrote Adèle Dupin (1),
yet the threat, as so often, is not defined.
Everything new necessarily poses uncertainty and everything we do, including
all growing of crops, has repercussions: for farmers, for consumers, for “the
environment” and for the economy. Conventional crops use chemical supplementation
and pesticides – there are consequences. Organic production also uses
chemicals, albeit of different sorts, and depends on extensive labour input
and repetitive ploughing – with other consequences. GM agriculture employs
fewer and more benign chemicals, and may require less ploughing than conventional;
moreover, yields in some cases are higher – different consequences.
The logical conclusion follows from Ms. Dupin’s own declaration: “no
plant of any sort should be cultivated before we are fully aware of the risks
for the environment as well as all of the other consequences”. But for
none of them, save for GM, are systematic attempts made to do so; the spotlight
remains focussed almost entirely on biotechnology.
Ms. Dupin mentions precaution but, by implication, only for GM agriculture.
Precaution within reason is fine but not if it leads to paralysis. Approved
GM crop varieties have already been tested so extensively compared with others
that a cry of “precaution” just for GM has a very hollow ring
about it. How about applying those precautionary attitudes to crops which
have not been tested? Organic, perhaps?
Unfortunately there is also an element of scare-mongering in Ms. Dupin’s
letter. She wrote that if we are not careful, GM crops could wipe out plants
that have fed thousands of generations of humans. But if we are careful, as
indeed we are, GM crops can replace plants that have fed thousands of generations
of humans with better versions and reach out to those who have not been able
to grow their own food. That is exactly what is happening, Mr. Dimas permitting.
No sign of publication so far.
Source:
1. Adèle Dupin. GM crops pose a huge threat. European Voice
(8.11.07) (http://www.europeanvoice.com/archive/article.asp?id=29236)
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