Back to the public over the GM crop battle

The British government has launched a new public debate on genetically modified (GM) crops as the three-year ban on growing such crops commercially is due to finish next year. But field-scale trials of oilseed rape, which have been carried out in the UK during this time, have fuelled opponents of the new technology and studies elsewhere have raised further questions many believe need to be addressed before moving forward. There has been a moratorium on the approval of new GM crops across the European Union since 1998 due to public anxiety about potential risks. Launching the new debate, Michael Meacher, the environment minister, said that the real position might be different. 'The public is not overwhelmingly pro-or anti-GM, as demonstrated by research on attitudes to GM in Europe. This found that there is a major gap between actual public attitudes, and perceptions of public attitudes amongst policymakers.' But crucially that research found that a powerful factor in determining public attitudes to GM is the 'behaviour of institutions responsible for development and regulation of technological innovations and risks', he said. Britain's efforts to take make a fresh attempt to gauge public opinion comes at a time of increasing tension. Ministers have said that they are coming under intense lobbying from the US and the biotech industry to accept GM products. Such crops have been planted across large areas of US farmland and in other countries such as China. Elliot Morley, a rural affairs minister, told a radio programme: 'There is enormous international pressure to allow GM crops and seeds in this country from the biotech companies. They are going through national governments and the World Trade Organisation and pressuring the EU.' And while consulting the public in the new survey, Meacher has said that Britain would not be 'bounced' into accepting GM crops. The biotech companies now know that next spring's planting season has been missed and the next window of opportunity is spring 2004. This may be the reason why Morley floated the News focus Back to the public over the GM crop battle Grains of contention: Europe remains a battleground between the supporters and opponents of genetically modified crops, such as the corn shown here. Britain is now planning new public consultation. Biotech companies are now pressing Europe to give the go-ahead for commercial planting of genetically modified crops but opposition is still running high. Britain is now hoping …