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GM Foods: From the point of view of...
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Dr Phil Dale leads a research group working on the environmental and food safety of GM crops. He was involved in the first GM field trials in the UK from 1987 onward. He is an adviser to various UK and international bodies on GM crops. |
One of the most worrying things in the GM debate is that there are groups in society that are actively trying to demonise one particular method of plant breeding. GM breeding is neither good nor bad. What is important is what we do with it. There are challenging issues that need to be faced, but they are more about the impact of modern agriculture, than the detail of the plant breeding method used to produce crops.
In conventional plant breeding, we transfer genes between plants by pollination. Modern methods of genetic modification make it possible to transfer a few genes into crops from different classes of living things. The reason why we want to do this is to provide a bigger choice of genes for modifying crops. For me, one of the main attractions of genetic modification (GM) is to be able to reduce the dependence of agriculture on the thousands of tonnes of sprays applied across the world each year, for the control of pests and diseases. There are advances in using plants for the production of sustainable supplies of novel oils for the manufacture of detergents, biodegradable plastics, lubricants and biodiesel. When the underground fossil oil supplies become scarce, it will be important to have sustainable supplies of plant-derived oils for a range of purposes. Oils from crops also have the advantage of being carbon dioxide neutral (i.e. burning oils from plants only produces as much carbon dioxide as was locked up by the growing plant) and will therefore not contribute to the problem of global warming. Plants are being modified to produce starch for making paper and packaging. Research is helping us understand how to enable plants to be more tolerant of environmental stresses (heat, cold, water, salt). Substantial areas of Pakistan, for example, have too much salt in the soil for crops to grow healthily. There is also progress on plants with enhanced anti-cancer properties and for the production of a range of vaccines and medicines.
People sometimes argue that it is unnatural to modify genes. However, we have been manipulating genes for most of this century by traditional plant breeding methods that are a good deal less precise than GM plant breeding. It is interesting to consider what aspects of our life are natural. It is perfectly natural to become ill with a killer disease, but unnatural to immunise people against it. If we want a wild flower area in our garden, we often choose to control the aggressive docks and nettles to give space for a wide diversity of wild plant species.
In 1998, GM crops covered almost 30 million hectares across the world, and I have no doubt that they will be of increasing importance in developed and developing countries during the coming decades. All advances in technology have their benefits and responsibilities. GM plant breeding is no exception. We need to develop and use GM crops carefully and responsibly with due care for human and animal health, and the environment. An important part of this responsibility is its national and international regulation.
I have been involved in plant genetics research for 30 years and research
on GM crops for 14 years. Much of my recent research has been to assess
the impact of GM crops on food, feed and the environment. During the
past 6 years, I have been involved in the national and international
regulatory process. From all of this, I have become convinced that,
with the additional regulatory hurdles, GM crops are as safe as conventionally
bred crops. It is worth remembering that most scientists also want the
best for their families, are keen on healthy and nutritious food, and
feel passionately about stewardship of the environment. We all have
a responsibility to pass the world on to our children's generation in
as good or better state than we received it.