Calls for European rethink on GM crops

Published on Thursday 12 February 2009 18:54

THE Scottish and UK governments remain resolute in their opposition to the commercial production of crops using genetically modified technology, but it appears that politicians throughout the European Union are being left increasingly behind what is happening out there in the wider world.

According to EuropiaBio, an industry-wide organisation, 13 million farmers worldwide are now cultivating GM crops, including maize, soya, sugar cane, and wheat, and are increasingly finding that there is minimal resistance to the new technology, which frequently allows farmers to operate with lower chemical inputs while their crops appear to be more tolerant to drought.

A recent survey in the UK involving almost 25,000 farmers conducted by the respected National Farm Research Unit showed that 45 per cent of growers are in favour of GM while 39 per cent are in the "don't know" category, with just 15 per cent clearly opposed. In France 62 per cent of maize growers would like the option to cultivate GM crops while in Poland the comparable figure is well over 80 per cent.

Speaking yesterday in Brussels James Ede, of the NFU of England and Wales, said: "European farmers are increasingly interested in using new technologies to meet the multiple challenges of feeding a growing population whilst minimising the impact on the environment.

"In the coming weeks, European ministers will have the opportunity to vote and end the 11-year moratorium on new biotech cultivation and to lift unscientific bans in member states. Europe's leaders should respond to the demands of their farmers and offer them the freedom to choose the same tools available to their competitors around the world."

In its annual study the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications found that 13.3 million farmers in 25 countries planted 125 million hectares of GM crops in 2008. The survey also revealed that an additional 1.3 million farmers planted 10.7 million hectares of GM crops in three new countries, including Egypt and Burkino Faso last year. Here in the UK, organic producers are under huge pressure in respect of feed costs. According to the strictures laid down by the Soil Association, they are prohibited from using any animal feeds that contain GM crops.

This is proving almost impossible, especially in relation to soya – a major source of protein. Prices of non-GM proteins have more than doubled and many producers are seeking a derogation that will allow then to use GM feeds. Strictly speaking, these farmers will no longer be classified as being organic.

This week newspaper Le Figaro revealed that a report, previously suppressed, presented to the French Food Standards Agency, concluded that the French government, which plans to vote against the adoption of GM technology next Monday in Brussels, is not acting on sound science.

Julian Little, the chairman of the UK's Agricultural Biotechnology Council, said: "Sadly, no GM crops of benefit to British farmers have been approved for cultivation in the past ten years.

"Farmers need the freedom to choose modern and efficient high-yielding farming methods based on tried and tested science to both produce enough food and to safeguard our natural resources.

"Agricultural biotechnology, particularly the use of GM, can be a valuable part of achieving these objectives."

However, public opinion in the UK, still remains opposed to the potential of GM crops. That seems strange to many farmers who readily cite the use of embryo transplants and artificial insemination in the livestock industry as being not that distant from GM technology.

Golden Promise remains a popular variety of malting barley for the whisky industry and commands a premium price at harvest. It was developed in the early 1960s as a result of gamma radiation on an old variety called Maythorpe.

Many farmers argue that this process was a precursor of GM technology, but the debate shows every sign of continuing.