FARMERS WARNED OF `GENETIC' CROPS FEARS
PA 09.10.97 02:58
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By Jo Butler, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, PA News
Farmers could find themselves without a market if they start
sowing genetically modified crops, campaigners warned today.
A report published by Friends of the Earth claims public
opposition to genetically engineered food is growing across
Europe amid fears over the possible health and environmental
consequences of "tampering" with nature.
Campaigners will be lobbying farmers at the National Farmers
Union today in a bid to urge them not to rush ahead with the
introduction of GM crops.
The report claims at the moment public awareness of the issues
surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the UK is
very low.
But it says elsewhere in Europe, greater awareness is leading to
stronger opposition to the introduction of GM crops.
Report author Pete Riley said the issue had to be debated now,
before farmers were given permission to sow GM crops in the UK.
He said: "If there had been a public debate about whether we
should be feeding cows to cows, I think the public would have
been horrified about it.
"However, it was only when BSE and CJD became apparent that
people started to find out what was going on.
"With genetics, we need to have a proper debate before we
unleash what would in effect be a widespread biological
experiment.
"Only one or two things need to go wrong to cause real
environmental and health problems.
"We're saying to farmers, you have a choice and you don't
need to do this."
The protest today is part of a fortnight of global action by
campaigners.
The European Union is considering whether to force food
manufacturers to label all products containing GMOs.