News that genetically modified Canadian canola has
been unwittingly planted here in Europe, has caused some
major shockwaves.
This is not truly an environmental or food safety
issue – the chance of any adverse consequences in either
context is minimal. The seed was an impurity in
conventional seed.
Nevertheless, this news has sent alarms bells ringing
all over France, Sweden, Germany, and in Britain. That a
small amount of genetically modified oilseed rape, as
it's called here, had been unknowingly planted in these
countries was termed an "escape" and greeted with near
hysteria in some quarters.
Because so many people are suspicious of the
technology and view no risk worth taking, the incident
has become a major publicity disaster for those working
for the acceptance of the biotechnology.
It's now clear that cross pollination is extremely
difficult to avoid. The Canadian rape was grown 800
meters, or half a mile, away from other canola – instead
of the usual 100 meters required for conventional seed
production in Canada. If the fault lies with volunteer
rape, it just underscores the fact that rape produces a
lot of small round seed and lots of them fall on the
ground before and during harvest.
So what happens next? Will Britons realize that
keeping their country free of genetic modification is an
unrealistic objective? Or will this be the final nail in
the coffin for this biotechnology in Europe?
Probably neither.
But this incident has certainly given breath to the
tiring campaign against genetic modification. It will
also increase the pressure for a change in the
government's science-based policy on the issue.
So far, the Labor Party has robustly defended what it
knows to be an unpopular policy. As the party's lead in
the opinion polls slips and the next election
approaches, the temptation to change course will
increase.
For CBC commentary, I'm David Walker,
an agricultural economist, at Lodge Farm Postwick in
Broadland Norfolk, England.
David Walker was senior economist for Home-Grown
Cereals Authority in London and previously was executive
director of the Alberta Grain Commission. His opinions
on British and European agricultural issues can be found
at
Uproar over 'Escape' of GM Canola
