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	View Edit Domain: GreenBio Title: * Body: The era of cheap food has come to an end and it may be time to think again about GM crops.The Assembly Government was yesterday accused of feeding prejudice against genetically modified food by Professor Wynne Jones, principal of Harper Adams University College.<br /><br />The United Kingdom has not raced to embrace the GM future. At present there are no GM crops under commercial cultivation.<br /><br />While the UK has been eager to pioneer other areas of biotechnology, the fear of "Frankenstein foods" runs deep in the national psyche.<br /><br />During the past decade we came to expect cheap bread and have been shocked at the recent escalation in the cost of the weekly shop.<br /><br />During the carefree years the only enthusiasts for GM crops appeared to be animated boffins or executives for multinational companies - neither of whom excited the public imagination or attracted sympathy.<br /><br />But now cool-headed experts are urging policymakers to approach GM food with an open mind.<br /><br />Sir David King, the Westminster Government`s former chief scientific adviser, believes there is an "urgent" need to begin work in this controversial area of science.<br /><br />Competition for foodstuffs is accelerating at the same time that climate change threatens to make food production more difficult.<br /><br />The rising costs will be passed on to consumers - us - but there is real danger that the world`s poorest people will find it even harder to survive. This brings an important ethical dimension into the argument which requires us to put emotions to one side.<br /><br />It is right that we venerate nature and tamper with it only under the tightest regulatory conditions.<br /><br />But just as our understanding of genetics has created the hope that debilitating medical conditions may one day be eliminated, so there is the potential for more dynamic and less wasteful agriculture.<br /><br />Any exploration of GM would need to be balanced with real efforts to halt the spread of deserts and advance safe and equitable access to water. It would be a travesty if the only GM crops brought to market were ones able to withstand a drenching of pesticides.<br /><br />But it is equally wrong that science should be restrained by fear of protests and acts of vandalism, if regulations are the result of rational research and debate - this is a democratic principle.<br /><br />It is "trendy" to boast of a GM-free Wales. The nation takes pride in beating England in the race to ban smoking in public places.<br /><br />But at a time when Welsh farmers are paying a £60 premium on each tonne of non-GM soya, it is foolish not to ask if our aversion to fusing the twin sciences of genetics and agriculture is wholly justified.<br /><br />If prejudice has taken root and shaped our decisions, then it is time to weed it out.<br /><br /><br />© 2008 Media Wales Ltd. Captcha: Please Enter Code : * Time Zone: * Select the time zone Vocabularies Newsletter: Domain: Show summary in full view Input format Filtered HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Full HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. news_filter Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. More information about formatting options			Related Articles University course to dispel GM 'Frankenfood myth' EU offers olive branch in GM crop battle Genetically modified foods get U.S. traction, global debate GE food could bring stability to poor nations Agribusinesses expect big yield in fields and stocks "Frankenfoods" gain greater acceptance as food prices skyroc... Top GreenBio Articles

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