Sir, - Recently, a report appeared in the Independent on Sunday of a suppressed report commissioned by the UK Government on the dangers of growing genetically modified crops. That report identified a number of dangers.
The high possibility of cross breeding of wild plants with transgenic plants to produce superweeds resistant to herbicides. (This has of course already occurred with some genetically engineered plants.) The report apparently considers it likely that an "arms race" would develop between commercial interests in GM crops and nature in which, it correctly points out, nature must always eventually win.
The potential for overdosing crops with herbicide with subsequent damage to insects, birds and other wildlife, and increased runoff of herbicides into rivers and other water supplies.
The danger to humans from proteins secreted on surface of these GM crops when ingested. These proteins degrade into amino acids in the gut which is unable to discriminate between natural and GM amino acids.
This UK report points out that the eco-system in these islands is much more fragile than in North America where these GM crops are being widely used. The report calls for the creation of a new watchdog body composed of environmentalists, scientists and farmers, to oversee the effects of these GM plants.
The newspaper also noted the prosecution of Monsanto for 10 field trials out of a mere 49 inspected. These prosecutions arise from Monsanto's failure to comply with the conditions laid down for these field trials.
Obviously, the Irish Government should get a copy of this report without delay. It should also establish such a watchdog committee as a matter of the greatest urgency. In the meantime, further field trials by Monsanto, or indeed any other company testing GM crops here, should be stopped Europe could gain a far better economic advantage by introducing legislation to establish environmentally-friendly farming practices and to protect the public from GM crops. As a consequence, American exports to Europe would be reduced. - Yours, etc., Dr Norman McMillan,
Lecturer, School of Science, Institute of Technology, Carlow.