Thursday, February 23, 2006

The allegation was made during a press conference called by the GM-free Ireland Network, to protest over an application by BASF, the German chemical company, to grow genetically modified (GM) blight resistant potatoes at an experimental farm in Grange, Co Meath.

Sixteen speakers told the press conference of their opposition to the proposed fiveyear trial for which the company has applied for a licence to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Speakers for farming groups such as the lrish Cattle and Sheep Farmers` Association and lrish Organic Farmers said they opposed the move because it would damage Ireland`s clean, green Image.

Environmentalists Dr Elizabeth Cullen, of the lrish Doctors` Environmental Association, and Kathryn Marsh, of the EPA`s CM advisory committee, objected on the grounds that not enough was known about the impact on human health from consuming CM products or animals fed CM products.

Fr Sen McDonagh, author and environmentalist, said GM production was a moral issue because corporate greed was forcing people to eat genetically engineered food.

The politicians who attended, Marian Harkin MEP and Mr Norris, agreed and said Ireland was being forced into doing something that was unnecessary. Ms Harkin said the chemical company`s plans were the "ugly face of globalisation" and Mr Norris said to allow CM production here would be an obscenity.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said there was no demand from either farmers or consumers for GM-produced potatoes. This was a German company and it should carry out trials there, not in Ireland, because there were many cases of GM crops infecting native plants and crops and that danger could not be minimised, he said. © 2006 ireland.com