GM crops scientist defends 'Frankenstein' food in a
visit to Cambridge
Cambridge Evening News
Wednesday, June 6, 2001
pg 12
A LEADING pro-GM scientist visited Cambridge to discuss
how breakthroughs in biotechnology could benefit the developing world.
Professor Channapatna Prakash met researchers from Cambridge
University earlier this week at GM giant Monsanto's Trumpington site.
The low-key conference saw Prof Prakash, director of the Centre for Plant
Biotechnology Research at Tuskegee University in Alabama, argue that scientists
must do more to ease consumer fears about genetic modification. Prof Prakash,
who specialises in the development of high-yielding grain crops for Third
World countries, said: "The development of genetically-modified grain
has improved the lives of most people on the planet through enhanced and
affordable food supply.
"This Green Revolution has boosted incomes for millions
of farmers and reduced the incidence of famine and starvation despite
massive population increases in the past few decades." He said consumer
anxiety about genetic modification was "understandable" and scientists
and GM companies must make a "concerted effort" to address public fears.
Genetically-modified crops have been demonised as "Frankenstein" foods
by some activists and the booming sales of organic goods in Britain reflects
a deep mistrust of the new technology.
This reaction has disappointed Prof Prakash. He said: "Britain
has been a cradle of scientific discovery so it is ironic that British
consumers have so rapidly coddled green activist groups who use fears
rather than science. "I sincerely hope that Britain will re-embrace its
proud scientific past because, sadly, the most notable British export
today is fear."
Ken Richard, co-ordinator of Cambridge Friends of the Earth,
said: "We want a ban on commercial planting of GM crops until further
tests are carried out. It is a complicated new technology and we cannot
fully know what its effect on the environment will be. We believe reports
of benefits to the Third World may have been exaggerated to manipulate
the media."
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