Farmers achieving high yields without GM

SINCE the Prince of Wales sparked a row over GM crops being a potential environmental timebomb, there has been much misinformation bandied about by government spokespersons and GM scientists over the issue.

One of the main arguments defending GM technology is that high yields produced by GM seeds are key to feeding the world. The truth is that farmers have been getting phenomenally high yields for 50 years by “selectively breeding” wild crops such as maize or wheat.

On the other hand, GM crops contain DNA from different animals and plants rolled into one molecule to create a new set of plant genes — a GM wheat crop can contain genes from fish, fungus or bacteria to enhance a particular resistance whereas selective breeding between two closely related species is a common occurrence in nature.

Whenever GM crops are grown on open fields there is a risk that they can contaminate selectively bred (or organic) crops and that is why GM technology is so carefully controlled.

Rupert Eden

Calle San Luis 30

Seville

Spain