Sir, – Dr Ewen Mullins of Teagasc reportedly states, “While it was being claimed the study was putting Ireland’s GM-free status in jeopardy, the State was not GM-free and was already importing almost one million tonnes of GM animal feed every year” (“GM study will see planting of 5,000 potato plants”, Home News, June 10th).
By the same logic, one should not complain about the negative effects of an increased level of air or water pollution, once some pollution has already occurred. The answer, of course, is to halt the use of GM foodstuffs in Ireland, rather than to build on what has already been allowed through.
There are many scientific and other arguments against GM “food” (for example those made by Vandana Shiva). But in this case, the issue is one of perception: to the extent that the (largely anti-GM) European public will lose their view of Ireland as a “clean, green” source of food, this will be economically catastrophic for Ireland’s food producers.
The article states, “Dr Mullins said it would be highly irresponsible of Teagasc to do something that would put Ireland’s food industry at risk as it was the organisation’s role to underpin the agri-food industry.” While this is undoubtedly true, it is surely an argument against the GM project rather than in favour of it. – Yours, etc,
PAUL O’BRIEN,
Lamb Alley,
Dublin 8.