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Researcher Warns of Risk With GM Foods
Andy Greenwood, ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT
Reprinted with permission from Organic Trade Services
12 May 2004
Scientists are "nowhere near" understanding the health and environmental impacts of genetically-modified crops, a leading critic from the United States will warn Westcountry audiences this week. Jeffrey Smith, founder and director of the Institute for Responsible Technology in the US, is giving a series of talks on the controversial issue across the country this week.
On Monday night, he spoke at a meeting in London, chaired by editor of The Ecologist and Devon farmer Zac Goldsmith, along with former Environment Minister Michael Meacher. Tonight he is speaking in Taunton before moving to Totnes tomorrow.
Mr Smith, from Iowa in America's Midwest, claimed there were numerous instances where results of laboratory tests showing negative effects of GM crops had been manipulated or covered up completely.
"Any one of those individual studies should be sufficient to stop this dangerous technology until thorough investigations have taken place," he said. "Taken together, they paint a picture that is worthy of very serious concerns."
One key issue, Mr Smith said, was that the development of GM crops had been surpassed by advances in the understanding of genetics and DNA. "I'm not against biotechnology but there does need to be long-term safety testing," said Mr Smith, who's been active in the field of GM food for nearly ten years."
"We are nowhere near the level of understanding to be able to protect human health and the natural environment. Unfortunately, we are already feeding this technology to millions of people and released it into the environment where it can never be recalled. It is a strategy that is really, really risky."
Mr Smith said the gulf of public knowledge on the controversial issue between the two countries was stark.
In the US, he said the mainstream press had effectively produced "biotechnology brochures" for the GM industry whereas the British media had remained more sceptical.
Mr. Smith is in Britain to promote his new book Seeds of Deception - Exposing Corporate and Government Lies about the Safety of Genetically Engineered Food - printed by Dartington-based Green Books.
The foreword has been written by GM opponent and former Environment Minister Michael Meacher, which states: "This is a brilliant book which combines shrewd dissection of the true nature of GM technology, a devastating critique of the health and environmental hazard of GM crops, and scarifying examples of the manipulation of both science and the media by the biotech industry."
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