“Frankenstein foods”: as the debate rages on feelings continue to run high

Is the Environment Secretary right to brand NGOs against genetically modified food "wicked"? In a strident piece in last Sunday's Independent the case in favour of GM crops gets a passionate airing. NGOs remain unconvinced. What do you think?

On 13th October an article appeared in The Independent detailing Environment Secretary Owen Paterson's assertion that those who oppose GM crops are "wicked". In a world where 870 million people (that's one in eight) suffer chronic undernourishment is it time to set side fears over genetically modified foods in order to address food inequality and its consequences?

Mr. Patterson is of the opinion that NGOs such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, who are against the development of GM foods, are in effect denying hundreds of thousands of people in developing countries the chance to live long and healthy lives. He focuses on their opposition to "golden rice" which has been developed to combat vitamin A deficiency - something which can cause blindness and premature death.

Some NGOs argue that GM foods may be dangerous and pose health risks to humans; there is a great concern that once out, "the genie could not be put back in the bottle". Furthermore it is said that vitamin A deficiency can be effectively tackled by conventional supplements, without the need to turn to "golden rice".

The balance between population and resources has been studied and debated for centuries - geographers will be particularly familiar with pessimistic theory of Thomas Malthus and the optimistic views of Esther Boserup. It could be said that GM crops embody those innovations referred to by Boserup when she said necessity would be the "mother of invention" but as this article illustrates, they are hugely controversial. There remain significant inequalities in terms of quality and quantity of food reaching people in different parts of the world but whether GM foods hold the key to reducing hunger and undernourishment remains to be seen.

Whether you are studying food supply issues or agriculture, development or population change, the issues involved in this debate are useful to consider.

Read the article and see what you think. Then read some more...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/opponents-of-third-world-gm-crops-are-wicked-says-environment-secretary-owen-paterson-8877634.html

Below is a link to a site from the World Hunger Education Service giving information about world hunger (including details on consequences of deficiencies in micronutrients like vitamin A).

http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm