Sir, – Elizabeth Cullen states it is difficult to understand why Teagasc would want to examine genetically modified (GM) crops as she claims it opposes Ireland’s “green” image (March 10th). In fact, green does not have to mean no GM. The German Greens in government allowed more than 40 successful GM crop trials. Any truly green-minded person would welcome Teagasc’s independent research into a technology that could help cut the 250,000lbs of toxic fungicide used annually against potato blight in Ireland.
Moreover, the Green Party in our last government produced Harvest 2020(July 19th, 2010), a vision for future Irish agriculture that was based on smart green growth. The recommendation relating to GM technology was listed under the title of "Restoring Competitiveness" and stated: "Teagasc should continue to provide an impartial research programme on the issues of GM crop cultivation to policy makers, tillage farmers, and the general public, in order that Ireland can engage in scientific discussions on new crop technologies and be to the forefront of technology should EU policy on GM crop cultivation alter and broader acceptance of the merits of GM technology emerge."
Since Teagasc’s last trials of GM crops in the last 1990s the mantra that “all GM is bad and all non-GM is good” has been shown to be incorrect and overly simplistic.
This Government needs to establish a forward-looking approach to GM technology so that it can develop evidence-based policies (via research by Teagasc) in a democratic manner in this area of strategic importance to Ireland’s society, economy and environment. – Yours, etc,