The NfCG Food Network met for a full day's discussion in May and most of it was spent discussing the implications of modern food biotechnology. Genetic modification, one of the range of new technologies, has been around for centuries, practically everything we eat has been modified over the years by selective breeding and we have been generally happy that food, used sensibly, will do us no harm.
What is different nowadays is that scientists can take a gene from one plant and transfer it to another to give the second plant instant particular characteristics which are "desirable". The difference is in the word instant. A MAFF speaker at the discussion day, after describing the process, pointed out that all genetically modified products introduced into the UK have been approved for safety following extensive assessment by the UK and European regulatory authorities. It was clear, however that doubts remained.
Network members heard the views of the Food and Drink Federation and Maeve Robertson's contribution giving the consumers' position is fully reported here.
Arising out of the discussion Martin Shaw, a member of the Network, put forward the view that NfCG should campaign for a five year moratorium on the commercialisation and release of genetically modified plants while very tightly controlled tests are carried out to establish long term effects. After all, he said, what is the rush? We do not need GM food, we produce more food than we need at the moment and farmers are being encouraged to set aside land previously used for crop growing. Let us be absolutely sure that there is no cross fertilisation with unmodified crops which may have adverse effects.
NfCG already has a well worked out Food Policy which is under review following the discussion day.
John Brown
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