What's the big deal about GM food?

Dr Oliver Moore (Ollie) is an author, academic, journalist, blogger and all round organic expert. Ever wondered what the fuss is about GM?  In this column, Ollie separates fact from fiction in the long running, highly controversial GM debate.

One of the big and significant differences between organic and conventional food is GM, or Genetic Modification.

Under the rules for organic farming and food, no GM feed is allowed for animal consumption. It is a little known fact that conventional animal feeds are allowed to have GM ingredients - in fact, in Ireland most conventional animal feed does have a GM component. What this means is that most of the meat and dairy products available in Ireland come from animals that have eaten feed with some GM ingredients in it. Organic food is thus a very real alternative to conventional food, when it comes to GM.

But what's the big deal about GM anyway?

On the one hand, as in many areas, GM foods and feeds are considered safe for animal and human consumption, are regulated carefully and are scrutinised continuously. Soy is one of the main GM crops grown globally. There are major expert and institutional backers of GM soy in agri-food, and also in some cases in environmental and development, (e.g. Plant Research International, members of the Round Table on Responsible Soy)

Some research also suggests that GM is beneficial in certain areas: examples include for pesticide use reduction and yield. However, this is not the full picture. A growing number of scientists have major concerns with GM – indeed a significant body of scientists have had concerns for at least 15 years.

Many of these concerns have been brought together in a comprehensive new report called GM Soy Sustainable? Responsible?. The 9 authors of this report, all senior scientists, include experts in  molecular embryology, molecular genetics and biosciences, as well as from related relevant areas such as agriculture, biology and ecology. While it is possible to criticise contributions to this report those from disciplines outside of the direct biosciences, due to the specialised nature of scientific research, it is also the case that GM has effects outside of the biosciences, as the report itself clearly shows.

According to Green Party Agriculture Spokesperson Trevor Sargent TD, (previously Junior Minister  at the Department of Agriculture): “This is a concerning study, which concludes genetically modified soya endangers human and animal health. It also identifies real problems with the herbicides that must be used in conjunction with this GM crop and highlights the damage that GM causes to the environment and to the rural communities where it is grown.”.

GM Facts, true or false?

There are quite a few myths busted in this report. First up, the notion that GM is everywhere and unstoppable: in fact, the authors point out  that, while 134 million hectares of GM crops were planted in 2009, the vast majority of land (99%) and farmers (90%) don't grow GM crops. However, soy is exceptional, with 69 million hectares planted in 2009. Half of Argentina's arable crops were in fact GM soy that year.

According to the report:  “More than 95 per cent of GM soy (and 75 per cent of other GM crops) is engineered to tolerate glyphosate herbicide, the most common formulation of which is Roundup. This allows the growing crop to be sprayed with glyphosate, killing weeds but allowing the crop to survive.” Many opponents of GM in farming have no problem with GM in the lab, and by extension GM used in medicines. But in the wilds of nature, far from the controlled conditions of the laboratory,  significant problems can emerge.

This is one of the single biggest issues with GM: imagine an area where just one plant can withstand massive doses of a super strong herbicide. When this herbicide is sprayed, the potential for it to do severe and widespread damage to other plants and by extension animals is immense. This practice has led, the authors claim, to the emergence of superweeds and the increased use of herbicides. This in turn has led to: land abandonment; lower yields; higher costs; reduced nutrient uptake; increased pests and diseases and increased use of fossil fuels in the production of such soy crops.

They connect GM soy production with severe losses of agricultural sustainability, through soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, loss of biodiversity (including farming biodiversity) and deforestation.

Read more of Ollie's views at http://olivermoore.blogspot.com