Teagasc role is about science not politics, conference told

IT IS not Teagasc’s role to get involved in the politics of biotechnology, but it is its job to examine the science involved, a leading conference was told at University College, Cork yesterday.

Teagasc director Professor Gerry Boyle said it is the authority’s job to research the technology, to evaluate its use in other countries, to determine the benefits and faults of adopting GM technology.

He said it is Teagasc’s job to use forums like the four-day Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference at UCC, to stimulate debate.