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Growing call for GM crops
GM crops may be inevitable if we want to combat rising food prices, say Dorset farmers who took part in the controversial crop trials.
Scientists and politicians say modified crops could combat the food shortages that are hitting shoppers' pockets - and letting the Third World's poor go hungry.
But the high-profile campaign waged against the Dorset trials from 2001 to 2004, including crop vandalism, has made Dorset's farmers wary of getting involved.
Owen Yeatman had trials at his farm at Belchalwell near Blandford, and thinks we should be restarting the GM debate.
"Food does grow on trees, but it doesn't grow fast enough," he said. "If we want farmers to produce more we need to be encouraging new production. People don't want GM but they want cheaper food.
"But it's not a decision for farmers, it's a decision for society. I'm not rushing into trials."
North Dorset MP Robert Walter said: "The real reason for developing these crops is in the Third World. We need to think of trials in the Sahara, not rural Dorset."
But rising prices here are fuelling debate. Analysts at mySupermarket.co.uk say prices at Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's have gone up by 12 per cent in a year.
Michael Cox, from Lower Farm in Hilton, near Blandford, had a section of his genetically modified oil seed rape destroyed in the trials.
He said: "I wouldn't want to go through that again. But if it became generally licensed and there were no health concerns, I would consider GM to reduce my costs."
Joe Coleman, from Clyffe Farm in Tincleton, near Dorchester, pulled out of the trials after pressure from campaigners. He said he would consider future trials and that GM was "the way forward" on food problems.
He said: "We don't want to upset people. There are so many people anti-GM but they don't understand it. But I think it could possibly happen in Dorset."
2:00pm Saturday 17th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Emulated, Bournemouth on 2:46pm Sat 17 May 08
I am amazed Owen Yeatman supports GM crops with Bee Colony Collapse Disorder becoming rampant. Man interferes with natures natural cycle and can create havoc. We should not be interfering with the natural rhythym of nature.
I am amazed Owen Yeatman supports GM crops with Bee Colony Collapse Disorder becoming rampant. Man interferes with natures natural cycle and can create havoc. We should not be interfering with the natural rhythym of nature.
Posted by: paul, poole on 3:16pm Sat 17 May 08
Why can't all of the Garden centres in Dorset be asked to grow crops as well as pretty plants GM or not?
Why can't all of the Garden centres in Dorset be asked to grow crops as well as pretty plants GM or not?
Posted by: Kevicious, Poole on 5:31pm Sat 17 May 08
There is a simple reason why food is getting more expensive - it is sold to us by huge supermarket companies making outrgaeous profits.
There is enough food in this country to feed everyone (huge amounts are wasted and thrown away every day), the problem is the control of the food supply by these private companies.
GM technology will not be used for some kind of utopian common good, it will be used to make greater returns from food that is already plentiful.
And if corporations and governments are so concerned about starvation in the third world, they should stop using these countries as giant sweatshops and plantations to feed our ridiculous demand for cheap, exotic goods.
There is a simple reason why food is getting more expensive - it is sold to us by huge supermarket companies making outrgaeous profits.
There is enough food in this country to feed everyone (huge amounts are wasted and thrown away every day), the problem is the control of the food supply by these private companies.
GM technology will not be used for some kind of utopian common good, it will be used to make greater returns from food that is already plentiful.
And if corporations and governments are so concerned about starvation in the third world, they should stop using these countries as giant sweatshops and plantations to feed our ridiculous demand for cheap, exotic goods.
Posted by: michael carpenter, BOSCOMBE on 1:37pm Sun 18 May 08
I DISAGREE WITH THE GROWING OF GM CROPS. MANKIND INTERFERES WITH NATURE TO MUCH AS IT IS WITHOUT CHANGING THE GENETIC CODES OF CROPS. IF WE STARTED TO GROW CROPS FOR FOOD RATHER THAN CUTTING DOWN FORESTS AND USING FARMLAND FOR BIOFUEL THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED THE PLANET.
I DISAGREE WITH THE GROWING OF GM CROPS. MANKIND INTERFERES WITH NATURE TO MUCH AS IT IS WITHOUT CHANGING THE GENETIC CODES OF CROPS. IF WE STARTED TO GROW CROPS FOR FOOD RATHER THAN CUTTING DOWN FORESTS AND USING FARMLAND FOR BIOFUEL THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED THE PLANET.
Posted by: PokesdownMark, Pokesdown on 4:17pm Sun 18 May 08
I used to disagree with GM. But then I got worried that the media wasn't good at explaining what it was about. So I did my own research. Now I'm quite positive about GM.
What made me question the media? Simple.. the MMR vaccine. One supposedly scientific study, which was deeply flawed and thus meaningless, was reported as if there were genuine concern. This reporting killed children needlessly.
If all you know about GM is what you have read in the papers, I really recommend reading up from some other sources.
For starters.. this concern about interfering with nature. Well plant and animal breeders have been doing this for generations. The resulting genetic changes are far broader and more uncontrolled.
I used to disagree with GM. But then I got worried that the media wasn't good at explaining what it was about. So I did my own research. Now I'm quite positive about GM.
What made me question the media? Simple.. the MMR vaccine. One supposedly scientific study, which was deeply flawed and thus meaningless, was reported as if there were genuine concern. This reporting killed children needlessly.
If all you know about GM is what you have read in the papers, I really recommend reading up from some other sources.
For starters.. this concern about interfering with nature. Well plant and animal breeders have been doing this for generations. The resulting genetic changes are far broader and more uncontrolled.
Posted by: Tru Belle, purbeck on 5:12pm Sun 18 May 08
Robert Walter MP is quite right- Dorset is not the place for experimenting with GM, we have a very precious landscape, which some could say is under great stress with many disappearing species, we have a very diverse landscape in Dorset and in fact the same with every county in Britain. Quite agree with one of the other posts that this country has a disgraceful reputation for wastefulness and greed. Britain is not the country to experiment with GM crops , let the sub saharan regions take the strain!! This is who it is for the benefit of surely?
Robert Walter MP is quite right- Dorset is not the place for experimenting with GM, we have a very precious landscape, which some could say is under great stress with many disappearing species, we have a very diverse landscape in Dorset and in fact the same with every county in Britain. Quite agree with one of the other posts that this country has a disgraceful reputation for wastefulness and greed. Britain is not the country to experiment with GM crops , let the sub saharan regions take the strain!! This is who it is for the benefit of surely?
Posted by: nick9000, Southampton on 8:16am Mon 19 May 08
[quote][bold]Emulated[/bold] wrote:
I am amazed Owen Yeatman supports GM crops with Bee Colony Collapse Disorder becoming rampant. Man interferes with natures natural cycle and can create havoc. We should not be interfering with the natural rhythym of nature. [/quote] CCD has nothing to do with GM crops. Put "Studies don’t implicate GM crops in honeybees disappearance" into Google and click on I'm Feeling Lucky
Emulated wrote:
I am amazed Owen Yeatman supports GM crops with Bee Colony Collapse Disorder becoming rampant. Man interferes with natures natural cycle and can create havoc. We should not be interfering with the natural rhythym of nature.
CCD has nothing to do with GM crops. Put "Studies don’t implicate GM crops in honeybees disappearance" into Google and click on I'm Feeling Lucky
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