GM Crops
Whilst we should not entirely reject the potential of Genetically Modified crops to help feed people in parts of the world which lack reliable food supplies, nevertheless I oppose commercial growing of GM crops until it is verified that they are environmentally safe.
If the British Government insists on pursuing GM here, I believe the maximum threshold for GM presence allowed in organic and conventional non-GM produce should not be 0.9% as the Government propose, but instead 0.1%.
We must also insist that the liability for any contamination above this threshold, including all revenue streams lost such as loss of organic certification, should fall on the biotechnology companies and those responsible.
Additionally the Government's proposed 'separation distances' between GM and conventional crops in England may be inadequate to prevent contamination; and I believe these should be reviewed.
I support the right of communities to create GM-free zones, such as Lib Dem-run Somerset County Council's "Zero Tolerance to GM" campaign. We support the use of organic and traditional farming methods above all for their contribution to biodiversity. Unfortunately the Government's support for GM crops risk undermining the organic revolution.
On the issue of the global food crisis, while the use of GM technology is a matter for each individual nation to decide I can see a number of reasons why other nations should also choose to reject GM.
A major concern about the way GM is currently practised around the world is that the multinational companies who own the patents on GM seeds can make poor farmers dependent on the monopoly supplier.
Particularly worrying is the so-called 'terminator' genes which mean that rather than a crop naturally re-seeding for the following year it 'terminates'. This means that for the next year's crop the farmer, who may already be facing extreme financial difficulty, has to buy another crop from the multinational, further increasing the profits of the company at the expense of the farmer's own financial situation.
Another argument in favour of GM Crops is that they produce higher yields than standard crops. It is not clear whether GM Crops do actually produce bigger loads and therefore, particularly bearing in mind 'terminator' technology, I do not feel that argument is a sufficient reason to support the introduction of GM seeds and crops.
So, while it is the right of each nation to determine what is best for their own citizens, I feel that until more is known about the potential environmental and economic impact of these crops, any use of GM crops should be avoided whenever possible.
Furthermore, any GM Food that is imported into the UK as a result of the use of GM technology abroad must be clearly labelled as such in order that British consumers are fully aware of what they are purchasing.
I will continue to work with my party colleagues to ensure that the right of British farmers and consumers to choose to be GM-free is protected.
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