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Science Forum Index » Agriculture Forum » British public says 'no' to GMs
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 Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 2:12 pm |
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http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=12363&sec=18&hier=2
British public says 'no' to GMs
Source: FWi 24 September 2003
By Paul Andersen
RESULTS from the GM Nation? debate, released on Wednesday (24
September), reveal that people in the UK are generally uneasy about GM
crops and GM food.
Over half (54%) of the participants in the debate never want to see GM
crops grown in the United Kingdom.
A further 18% would find GM crops acceptable only if there was no risk
of cross-contamination.
Only 2% thought GM crops would be acceptable in any circumstances, and
only 8% were happy to eat GM food (86% were not).
Most people feel that there is a need for more knowledge about
potential risk to the environment and human health. Very few would
support early commercialisation of GM crops.
The report reveals widespread mistrust of GM decision-makers - in
particular the government and multi-national companies.
People taking part in the debate expressed a wish for a reliable,
independent authority which can be trusted to establish the facts
about GM crops.
The steering board of the public GM debate received 36,557 completed
feedback forms, and the responses show a general pattern of caution,
suspicion or outright hostility towards GM crops or foods.
95% of respondents feared the risk that non-GM crops may be
contaminated by the introduction of GM crops.
93% thought that GM technology is driven more by profit than by public
interest.
The Consumers' Association has called for the government to ensure
that the report plays a key role in its decision about GM
commercialization.
Friends of the Earth has challenged the government to listen to its
findings and rule out GM commercialization in the UK.
The Agricultural Biotechnology Council, on behalf of the UK
agricultural biotechnology industry, has claimed that up to 73% of the
feedback forms sent to the GM debate steering board, can be clearly
identified as being "orchestrated" by campaigning groups.
The chairman of the steering board, Professor Malcolm Grant, said that
hardly any evidence had been found of orchestrated feedback from
respondents. |
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