Call for proof aimed in wrong direction

Environment Minister Phil Woolas has been around spin so long that it must be like living on a top. He is claiming Prince Charles is somehow condemning the third world to starvation by questioning the wisdom of heading down the very rocky road of genetically modified crops. Then he challenges HRH to come up with evidence that GM crops are taking us towards environmental disaster.

A Government looking after our interests - after all it is us they represent - should be working on the basis that unless GM crops can be proved to be completely safe they should be banned not the other way round, you can use them until someone proves they are unsafe, by which time it could well be too late. This really is a case of guilty until proven innocent.

As for the third world starving argument, that is a red herring the size of a small whale. One of the major players in GM crops developed cereal strains which were resistant to its own weedkiller, effectively cornering the market in both seed and means to grow it in areas which can afford both - which cuts the third world out of the equation. We are talking multinational corporations chasing profits not charitable trusts wanting to help the poor and it is most unlikely strengthening the corntol of giant corporations over agriculture is going to do much to help the starving, many of whom go to bed hungry because they are poor not because there is no food available.

It is not as if genetic engineering is an exact science. No one is quite sure what is being developed or what the effect will be when cross breeding occurs with plants in the wild, or whether it might affect the life cycle, breeding or health of pollinating insects. Mess up that little ecosystem and disaster would be an understatement. Then, as an added bonus, the first indication of any health problems in man caused by genetic crops will not surface for 10, 20 or 30 years long after those responsible have retired to look after their wallets.

If we heed Prince Charles, and many eminently qualified scientists, in taking stock of GM crops before unleashing them on the world, even if they are completely wrong and GM crops are the savioour of mankind then the earth stays as it is. If, on the other hand, the Government listens to big business over common sense, which sadly is its usual course of action, and it all goes belly up then we will have a disaster on our hands which cannot be reversed - Pandora's box mark II.

Unless Mr Woolas is totally stupid I am sure he will not personally guarantee that GM crops are 100 per cent safe with no side effects on other plants, humans, insects or animals, and if he does give such a guarantee it is not going to be much use as he will be out of office and probably working for some giant agro-chemical firm by the time the fan has been swamped.