IRELAND may be about to allow the production of genetically-modified crops without sufficient scientific investigation of the effects of such production methods, a prominent British geneticist has warned.
Plant genetics had undergone a revolution recently but results achieved from genetically-modified foods varied between the laboratory; and farm level, according to Dr Ricarda Steinbrecher. "This technology is in its early days, and we have no way of guaranteeing its' safety. We may be creating `superweeds' and `superbugs' as a consequence. Allowing such products into the food chain when the science is still at experimental stage is worrying."
Dr Steinbrecher, who works for the Women's Environmental Network and has been a campaigner on biotechnology issues in Britain, was invited to Dublin by food organisations and businesses including organic producers and health food outlets.
They are concerned at the application by the US multinational chemical company, Monsanto, to carry out tests here for the production of genetically-modified sugar beet resistant to its herbicide Roundup. They mounted a protest outside the Dail yesterday over the lack of public debate on the issue. The Environmental Protection Agency is due to decide shortly on the application.
The EPA recently sought more information from Monsanto about the proposal to carry out trials in Cork, Kilkenny and Carlow.
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