http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/thejournal/content_objectid=13970131_method=full_siteid=50081_headline=-Expert%2Dcondemns%2D%2Dfake%2D%2DGM%2Dscience-name_page.html
The Journal, Newcasatle upon Tyne
Feb 20 2004

Expert condemns 'fake' GM science
By Daniel Cochlin
 

A top North scientist who quit a high-profile Government inquiry into 
genetically modified food said yesterday his stance was justified by reports 
the Government has apparently approved plans to grow the controversial crops.

Newcastle University professor of ecological agriculture Carlo Leifert quit 
the inquiry last year because he felt it was set on endorsing the use of GM 
science.

Yesterday leaked documents from minutes of a February 10 meeting of the 
Cabinet Office ministerial sub-committee on biotechnology were reported to 
show a decision to back the sowing of GM maize on a commercial scale.

Prof Leifert said: "I was hoping all this time that I was wrong with what I 
thought at the time, but this clearly shows that what we suspected is 
actually true.

"They want to get into growing the crops and are using one dubious test as 
something that says it will be of environmental benefit.

"That is completely fake. There is a report in the US which shows the true 
harm of pesticides and GM crops, but the Government have ignored this."

Dr Leifert quit the GM Science Review Panel last July, saying it had been set 
up simply to rubber-stamp use of the science. He said: "I think it was on the 
cards and the whole GM science research was not there for evidence, it was 
there to find a particular result -that there is no risk involved.

"The trouble is, we just do not know what the risks are and we are not able to 
calculate the long-term impact."

Environmental campaigners also reacted angrily. Conservation groups fear 
full-scale commercial growing would jeopardise Britain's ability to produce 
GM-free crops.

Area networker for Greenpeace Tyneside Beryl Newham, of Armstrong Avenue, 
South Shields, said: "I was shocked, stunned and dismayed when the report 
came out because it seems contrary to public opinion. Over 70pc of people are 
against the plans.

"What Greenpeace are most concerned about is contamination, because it is not 
possible to grow GM and GM-free foods within a few miles of each other 
without contamination. What happens for people who want to use organic foods? 
Who is going to pay for the contaminated crops?

"It is going to have to be the taxpayer as usual and that is really unfair. 
There is no need for it.

"The organic industry is growing and people are becoming more interested in 
eating organic food with more and more in the supermarkets."

The leaked report said ministers agreed "the public was unlikely to be 
receptive" to the move but it was agreed "careful presentation" of the EU's 
focus on evidence-based decision-making could help.

But Friends of the Earth North-East campaigns co-ordinator Frances Aldson 
said: "The Government's decision to allow the commercial growing of GM maize 
will directly affect people in the North-East through the food chain.

"Although the major supermarkets chains have recently restated their intention 
to keep GM ingredients out of their own brand foods, GM maize would almost 
certainly feature in other branded goods.

"Because of complicated labelling, people would be unaware of this unless they 
studied the label with a microscope, while current laws mean that foods can 
contain up to 0.9pc of GM ingredients without having to be labelled as such.

"As a result, people will be eating foods containing GM without even realising 
it."

Ministers' 'contempt for concerns'

Ministers were accused of treating voters with contempt after the leak of 
plans to press ahead with GM crops.

Ex-environment minister Michael Meacher said there was no "moral, scientific 
or political authority" for the move.

And green campaigners said the leaked Cabinet sub-committee minutes showed big 
business had triumphed over public opinion.

An announcement on commercial production of GM maize is due to be made soon. 
Mr Meacher asked: "Why is the Government going ahead? It is not because of 
the science, it is because of the Bush administration applying pressure … and 
because of big companies like Monsanto who want to make a big profit out of 
cornering the world food supply. It has nothing to do with feeding the 
world."

Patrick Holden, of the Soil Association, warned pressing ahead would be a 
"tragedy for our country". Giving the green light to GM maize would be the 
thin end of the wedge, he said. Full-scale commercialisation would jeopardise 
Britain's ability to produce GM-free crops and consultation showed there was 
no economic case.

"There are serious questions about environmental safety, co-existence is 
impossible and the public are against it," he said.

Liberal Democrat rural-affairs spokesman Andrew George said: "This document 
shows that the Government are treating people's concerns about GM with 
contempt, and skew parliamentary discussion to favour biotech giants."

The Journal: Today's Voice of the North