Sir, - Ned Bright's letter of June 3rd aimed to provoke fear about modern agriculture and GM technology. What is required is openness, clarity and rational public debate to enable consumers to make informed decisions.
The GMO debate is a highly charged one and in this climate it is difficult for consumers to make informed decisions. In their search for clarity and objectivity, I would point consumers toward the regulators - the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food Safety Authority and the Consumer Association of Ireland. These bodies are above commercial influence and have the consumer's interest at heart.
Mr Bright refers to the work carried out by Dr Pusztai, but fails to point out the flaws in this research. Dr Pusztai fed cooked potatoes to one group of animals and uncooked potatoes to another group. Such a fundamental flaw in trial design would render the results unacceptable no matter what the outcome. Additionally, the gene being examined by Dr Pusztai is known to be toxic and would never be used in a food crop.
Contrary to the example put forward, there are no tomatoes on sale with fish genes in them. This fabrication is designed to mislead and cloud a balanced debate.
Mr Bright states that "genetically modified plants are not the key to feeding the world's hungry". The facts are that modern agriculture allows us to produce enough food to feed 6 billion people today. Hunger results from an inequitable distribution of food around the globe. It is predicted that the world population will rise to at least 9 billion by 2030. Therefore we will need to increase our food production by at least 50 per cent to satisfy future food demand. Indeed, as people aspire to better diets, it is predicted that we may need to double food production by 2030. Modern agriculture, including the use of GM crops, is the only way forward.
There is no reason to believe that we cannot continue to increase the yields of our crops. Naturally, alternatives to finite resources such as oil, gas and coal will have to be found. Modern agriculture is every bit as sustainable as the motor car, domestic heating, the manufacture of human pharmaceuticals, or the manufacture of computers.
Recent research carried out by transition-year students in conjunction with AgriAware and The Irish Times indicates their belief that we should develop GM crops in a controlled manner. This is a sensible assessment of the current situation by unbiased students who will be our future decision-makers. - Yours. et.,
Delan O'Brien, Director, Animal and Plant Health Association, Aungier Street, Dublin 2.