British hype GMO crops - ignore science

by: Marcia Ishii-Eiteman

Fri Jan 28, 2011 at 15:18:06 PM PST

Britain's Chief Scientist has come out trumpeting the need for genetically engineered (GE) crops to feed the world, and the UK media is falling all over itself with blaring headlines that echo this badly misinformed sentiment (see Guardian, Telegraph coverage).

The source of all the hullabaloo is the UK's release this week of its mammoth Foresight report, Global Food and Farming Futures. Using the occasion to espouse what seems to be his personal opinion, Sir John Beddington- the Chief Scientist in question, argues that "It is very hard to see how it would be remotely sensible to justify not using new technologies such as GM. Just look at the problems that the world faces: water shortages and salination of existing water supplies, for example. GM crops should be able to deal with that." "Should?" Is that the best you can do, Sir John?

As the Biotech Lobby Spins

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 14:41:52 PM PST

More on what the report actually says and the media coverage of it below.

British Officials Get the Food Crisis Problem But Total Miss the Solution

by: Jill Richardson

Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 17:09:37 PM PST

Speaking at the annual Oxford Farming Conference this week, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, Hilary Benn, said: 'Food security is as important to this country's future wellbeing - and the world's - as energy security. We need to produce more food. We need to do it sustainably.'

Um, yeah. So how does your government plan to do that?

His speech was followed by one from the Government's chief scientist, Professor John Beddington, re-iterating his call for the use of genetically modified (GM) crops to increase production.

Bzzz. Wrong answer! Thankfully, the Soil Association speaks the truth:

However, Soil Association director Patrick Holden said neither GM technology, nor increasing food production would provide a long-term solution to tackling the food crisis.

He said the UK needed to phase out nitrogen fertilisers, switch to more rotational farming and reduce meat production - all of which he called 'inconvenient truths to the Government'.

OK - now if only THAT GUY was in charge instead of the people who are actually in the government. The Soil Association also calls for more public understanding of the food crisis and increased per capita spending on food. (While people often get angry when calls are made for more expensive food, please understand that there's a trade-off because spending more on better food and less pollution from food production means less spending on health care. I'd rather spend more money on the front end for great food instead of money on the back end for unpleasant medical procedures and decreased quality of life. What about you?)

Don't hold your breath, Secretary Vilsack

by: desmoinesdem

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 10:50:54 AM PDT

[USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service administrator Michael] Michener declined to discuss the department's strategy for promoting international acceptance of biotechnology, saying it's still in the works. But he argues that the Obama administration can be more effective than the Bush administration, which went to the World Trade Organization to unsuccessfully break European resistance to the genetically engineered crops.

Vilsack is taking a lighter approach, Michener said, recounting a discussion the secretary had with his German counterpart.

Vilsack "made this very creative argument on how during the eight years of the Bush administration, the Europeans would lecture us on how we had to bring our citizens along and educate them on the science of climate change. He turned that around and said, 'You know, you've got a similar responsibility on biotech'" Michener said.

That certainly is a "creative" analogy. Getting Americans on board with serious policies on climate change may be our only hope for avoiding a catastrophic global warming scenario. Gaining European acceptance for genetically-modified crops has no comparable global benefit (no, these crops won't magically end world hunger).

But a more important point is after the jump.

GM Foods on the Attack in Europe

by: Asinus Asinum Fricat

Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 16:53:19 PM PST

In the face of climate chaos and a deepening world food crisis, the Gene mongers are gearing up for a PR offensive to re-brand themselves as climate saviors, pushing genetically engineered crops as a silver bullet solution to climate change.