PRINCE LAUNCHES PUBLIC DEBATE ON GM CROPS
PA 08.12.98 03:47
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By Tim Moynihan, PA News
The Prince of Wales is urging people to have their say on the
controversial issue of genetically-modified food.
In the first online forum on his official website, the Prince has
invited responses as to whether GM crops are needed.
Mixing genetic material from species that cannot breed naturally
"takes us into areas that should be left to God", he
says, adding: "We should not be meddling with the building
blocks of life in this way."
While acknowledging that genetic manipulation could lead to major
advances in medicine, agriculture and the good health of the
environment, he warns that advanced technology brings its own
dangers.
"I am not convinced we know enough about the long-term
consequences for human health and the environment of releasing
plants (or, heaven forbid, animals) bred in this way."
He adds: "I suspect that planting herbicide resistant crops
will lead to more chemicals being used on our fields, not fewer.
But this isn't the whole story. Such sterile fields will offer
little or no food or shelter to wildlife, and there is already
evidence that the genes for herbicide resistance can spread to
wild relatives of crop plants, leaving us with weeds resistant to
weedkiller."
Warning that genetic material does not stay where it is put, that
pollen is spread by the wind and by insects, and that GM crops
can contaminate conventional and organic crops growing nearby, he
says: "Major problems may, as we are assured, be very
unlikely, but if something does go badly wrong with GM crops we
will be faced with a form of pollution that is self-perpetuating.
"I don't think anyone knows how to clean up after that sort
of incident, or who would have to pay for it."
He also questions the claims that some GM crops are essential to
feed the world's growing populations.
"Is it really true? Is the problem sometimes lack of money,
rather than lack of food? And how will the companies who own this
technology make a sufficient profit from selling their products
to the world's poorest people? Wouldn't it be better to
concentrate instead on the sustainable techniques which can
double or treble the yields from traditional farming
systems?"
A public debate is necessary on whether GM crops are needed, he
says.
"You may want to use the response section of this forum to
add your views to the discussion. We shall monitor responses and
publish a selection from both sides of the debate on a regular
basis."
The Prince's website, which had seven million hits in its first
week, is on http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk