GM-free island could cost €40m a year

A COMPLETE ban on genetically modified crops and animal feed stuffs could cost Ireland nearly €40 million per year.

But the net economic cost could be as low as €7 million, if Ireland adopted a voluntary ban on the import and cultivation of GM crops.

Dr Fiona Thorne, Teagasc Rural Economy Centre, recently presented the findings from research which examined the economic implications for Ireland of voluntarily becoming a GM-free island.