National cultivation bans: With what justification?
In July 2010 the EU Commission introduced new guidelines for national coexistence measures. On this basis, the Member States are to have the possibility themselves to restrict or ban the cultivation of genetically modified plants to prevent accidental traces of GMO in other products. In the future such national bans will be made simpler and more comprehensive through a change in the EU release directives. GMO Safety has spoken with Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Dederer from the Faculty of Law at the University of Passau about the manoeuvring room and limits for the Member States.
Debate
Feed the world: With or without genetic engineering?
16 October is World Food Day. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), which established World Food Day in 1979, will be drawing attention to the fact that one billion people are now suffering from hunger and malnourishment. The UN’s millennium goal of halving the number of hungry people by 2015 is probably no longer attainable for a number of different reasons, ranging from population growth and water scarcity to climate change and the economic crisis. Can plant biotechnology play a role in reducing hunger and poverty? GMO Safety asked two experts. more
- Matin Qaim, University of Göttingen: “With Bt cotton, and even with Bt maize, we have seen yield increases of 30 to 40 per cent in developing countries.”
- Hans Rudolf Herren, Millenium Institut, Washington: “There are various organic farming techniques which can get us a lot further than genetic engineering.”
Debate
“Science is credible if it operates independently of day-to-day politics and economic interests.”
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) was set up on 1 November 2002 as part of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). The BfR identifies possible risks from food, substances and products, assesses them according to scientific criteria and actively contributes to reducing them. GMO-Safety spoke to Prof. Andreas Hensel , president of the BfR.more
Debate
“Unease finds a legitimate expression in risk.”
It was five years ago, on 16 April 2002, that the German version of GMO Safety (bioSicherheit) went online. In the words of Wolf-Michael Catenhusen, then State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), at the launch of bioSicherheit, the intention was for everyone to form their own opinion about the opportunities and risks of genetically modified plants. One of the goals was to ensure a better perception within the public debate of the topics and results of safety research into genetically modified plants. GMO Safety spoke to Wolfgang van den Daele about the continuing conflict surrounding crop genetic engineering and the strained relations between science and society. more
Debate
“The central problem is the mixing of scientific and political arguments.”
Plant (‘green’) genetic engineering is still perceived in the first place as a risk. Although scientists have been conducting biological safety research for years, the belief that possible consequences for the environment of genetically modified plants have not been researched is widespread. While politicians reinforce this attitude, the voice of scientists in the public debate is almost inaudible. GMO Safety spoke to Karl-Heinz Kogel, a biologist and agricultural scientist at the University of Giessen, about this. Kogel has taken a very active part in the public discussions about his release trial with GM barley. more
Debate
“On paper there is a clear division between science and politics. But the reality is different.”
The EU legal framework and the procedure for authorising genetically modified crops are being criticised and some member states have made various reform proposals. GMO Safety spoke to Maria Weimer, a PhD student at the European University Institute in Florence. more
Debate
Safety research into genetically modified plants: Why? Who does it? How independent is it?
Biological safety research in the field of plant biotechnology: What are people’s expectations? How can people find out about current research findings? These were the key questions of a panel discussion that was held on 29 June 2009 in Berlin as part of the closing conference of the Biosafenet project funded by the EU Commission.more
Further debate texts
Cultivation of GM oilseed rape: Is oilseed rape capable of coexisting?
Risk assessment for Bt plants: two concepts
Epigenetics: There is more to heritable changes than DNA - but does this make transgenic plants unsafe?
Four questions put to experts from different sectors of society
Quicksearch
Topic search
Debate at gmo-safety.eu
Debate presents texts and opinions that contribute in a wide variety of ways towards enlivening the discussion surrounding green genetic engineering by offering new angles, surprising points of view and illuminating changes of perspective.
- Comments are always welcome.
- Do you have a suggestion for a Debate text? Send an email to the GMO Safety editorial team
"Acceptance and respect are very important to me."
Gene technology and nature conservation. An irreconcilable controversy?
“Europeans are rejecting a potentially powerful tool for producing better agriculture.”
He says of himself that he has been “a Green all his life”. For years, as a senior member of staff at English Nature he followed the effects that new agricultural practices are having on biodiversity and the environment. Now he is calling for a change of direction. He sees genetic engineering as a tool for developing new crops that can make agriculture more sustainable. He presented his thoughts at the annual conference of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland in Bremen.
Top