Farmer’s friend or Frankenstein food?

In the latest in a series of Friday science features, genetic food modification is explained by Professor Rob Smith of the School of Applied Sciences at University Campus Oldham’s degree partner, Huddersfield University

GM crops generate strong reactions. GM is seen by some as helping to solve food shortages and by others as dangerous and unnecessary.

GM means ‘genetically manipulated’ and refers to new techniques developed in the last 20 to 30 years. In fact, all food crops have been genetically manipulated in the past, using artificial selection to speed up and to alter the direction of evolution.

Modern cereal crops such as wheat were once wild grasses. Our ancestors who first developed farming in the ‘fertile crescent’ region of the middle east (Iraq/Iran) found that they could harvest and eat some grass seeds.

The clever farmers chose some of the larger seeds to plant for next year’s food. The wheat seeds became much larger over many years of selective breeding as genes producing larger seeds were gradually brought together.

Wheat is now grown as a high-yield crop across much of the world. The same method was used to produce other crops and farm animals. For example, cattle were selected that were tame enough to be farmed and with features such as high milk yield.

Modern advances in biology have led to faster ways of changing crops. Fragments of genetic material (DNA) are moved from one species to another, something that is generally very uncommon in nature.

This is what is usually meant by GM — a technological approach that produces rapid genetic change of a type that might not occur naturally. This ‘unnaturalness’ worries many people.

Also, some people think that GM could be dangerous, producing plants with unstable genetics and unpredictable features. There is no evidence of these dangers but people say why take the risk?

Pressure groups used the term “Frankenstein foods” in the 1990s to generate concern among the UK public. They were successful because British public opinion has been generally against GM. In contrast, GM crops are widely grown and accepted in the USA and many other countries.

So are GM crops safe? There have been many trials and to date, there is no evidence that GM is any more or less likely to cause harm than any other method.

One controversial form of GM is to make crops that are not killed by pesticides. Pesticides can then be sprayed on these crops to kill weeds and to increase yield.

The organic movement is totally against this approach because it encourages pesticide use. Organic farmers are worried that bees will carry pollen from GM crops to their fields and ‘contaminate’ their crops. The organic movement is against all GM crops. Other people worry that use of GM crops will make farmers depend on big companies who sell GM seeds. This is a socioeconomic rather than scientific concern.

Most biological scientists are in favour of the principle of GM although some are against. Myself, I see GM as one of several useful tools that help us to feed an increasing population.

On Wednesday, Professor Howard Atkinson and Dr Peter Irwin will give a public lecture at the University of Hudders-field entitled ‘GM Crops: real benefits, real concerns?’.

This will be followed by an open discussion. This event is part of National Science Week and is run jointly with the Society for Chemical Industry.

It will be held in the Canalside West Lecture Theatre, Firth Street, Huddersfield following a reception with free refreshments between 6 and 6.30pm. Please ring Janet on 01484 473138 if you are going to attend to help plan catering. The event is free.