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| A Thai organic farmer pretends to be dead after eating GM corn during a protest against the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to Thailand outside the Government House in Bangkok in 2004. (photo: Food Freedom) |
02 July 12
ren't
critics of genetically engineered food anti-science? Isn't the debate
over GMOs (genetically modified organisms) a spat between emotional but
ignorant activists on one hand and rational GM-supporting scientists on
the other?
A new report released today, "GMO Myths and
Truths",[1] challenges these claims. The report presents a large body of
peer-reviewed scientific and other authoritative evidence of the
hazards to health and the environment posed by genetically engineered
crops and organisms (GMOs).
Unusually, the initiative for the report came not from
campaigners but from two genetic engineers who believe there are good
scientific reasons to be wary of GM foods and crops.
One of the report's authors, Dr Michael Antoniou of
King's College London School of Medicine in the UK, uses genetic
engineering for medical applications but warns against its use in
developing crops for human food and animal feed.
Dr Antoniou said: "GM crops are promoted on the basis
of ambitious claims - that they are safe to eat, environmentally
beneficial, increase yields, reduce reliance on pesticides, and can help
solve world hunger.
"I felt what was needed was a collation of the evidence that addresses the technology from a scientific point of view.
"Research studies show that genetically modified crops
have harmful effects on laboratory animals in feeding trials and on the
environment during cultivation. They have increased the use of
pesticides and have failed to increase yields. Our report concludes that
there are safer and more effective alternatives to meeting the world's
food needs." READ MORE
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