Well Britain, it looks like Genetic Engineering is coming your way again. Several government ministers are backing a campaign to have genetically modified crops back on the public agenda.
Even some senior ministers believe now you are ready to embrace the genetic engineering of your food.
Yet recent polls suggest at least 70 per cent of the European public is opposed to Genetically Modified foods.
Evidently they are liaising with key agricultural supporters of Genetic Engineering in order to push the government into launching a national debate on the issue to highlight the benefits. (aka The ‘Spin’)
One government source said: “GM will come back to the UK, the question is how it comes back, not whether it’s coming back.”
Back in the late 1990’s, attempts to introduce Genetic Engineering to Britain were met with hostility from it’s citizens.
Activists tore up crops, and supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer barred Genetically Modified ingredients from their products for fear of sparking a consumer backlash.
In 2004, the government announced that no Genetically Modified crops would be grown in the country for the ‘foreseeable future’. Lord Peter Melchett, policy director of the Soil Association declared, “This is the end of GM in Britain”.
Currently, only one UK company, BASF, is trialing Genetically Modified crops, a blight-resistant potato located in Cambridge and Yorkshire.
Currently it is not believed that any other UK companies are applying for licenses to grow GM crops.
A Defra spokeswoman claimed: “Ultimately it will be for farmers and consumers to decide whether they want GM products. If there is no market for them, GM crops will not be grown.”
Julian Little, chairman of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, said: “We have absolutely every confidence that GM will be used in the UK.”
The health dangers of genetically modified ingredients that have been censored for so long are becoming public.
Despite 70 per cent of the European public opposed to Genetically Modified foods, several ministers and key agricultural figures believe now is the time to ‘reconsider’…
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7 comments
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September 26, 2007 at 3:30 am
matt
Not on my patch it ain’t!
October 4, 2007 at 6:47 am
Pete Smith
I used to be a gung-ho, knee-jerk opponent of GM. However, I’ve come to think it’s important to distinguish between the grosser “Frankenstein” projects, such as making luminous mice by implanting jellyfish genes, and specific intra-species modifications such as BASF’s work on activating the blight-resistance gene in potatoes.
October 5, 2007 at 3:14 am
matt
Stop that man Pete Smith … traitor, traitor!
October 5, 2007 at 5:51 pm
TodayYesterdayAndTomorrow (TYT)
LOL Matt you’re a nut
Government and media are really going to ‘have at it’ with you folks out there - stand strong. Have your facts and be ever so clear you won’t settle for less than your food to be… food, just like you pulled off last time.
Strength in numbers!
January 14, 2008 at 10:08 am
Rumah Sabul Tumpangan
Hi..just stopping by to say a Happy New Year…interesting post there, and i’ve bookmarked this blog too…keep up the good job
June 7, 2008 at 4:27 am
Capri
OMG! Where are you? You’ve been away for almost a year.
I stopped drinking aspartame months ago and my skin healed up and is completely clear now thanks to your advice.
June 7, 2008 at 9:48 pm
TodayYesterdayAndTomorrow (TYT)
Hi Capri,
All is well. I’ve been active commenting on other blogs on this subject, but not posting new data for a while.
Great to hear you’ve made headway! How are you feeling? If you’re consuming soy (it’s in so, so much!) and you don’t feel yet like you want to despite removing aspartame, read “Soy, The Untold Story”. This too will benefit you greatly.
Great to hear from you!