| Genetically Modifying Ireland |
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GM FOODS IN IRELAND Official government policy in Ireland is that the production of GM foods are banned. Monsanto and BASF Plant Science GmbH (an affiliate of the multinational chemical and pharmaceutical corporation BASF) have been trying to conduct trials here since 2006, including attempted GM potato trials at Teagasc Research Centre in Arodstown, Summerhill, County Meath (near the Hill of Tara) but have met with resistance. Their experiments were to research a 'blight' resistant potato. In Peru, the home of potatoes, there are thousands of varieties of potatoes cultivated which prevent disasters involving potato blight. If one variety fails due to blight others will be resistant. Irelands potato famine was caused by our reliance on one variety of potato 'the lumper'. If other varieties of blight resistant potato were available at the time our population would not have suffered so greatly. Also the fact that British landlords exported 1000s of tonnes of grain and meat during that period, allowing the population to starve, did not help ! Be aware that giant unethical 'profit driven' corporations like Monsanto and BASF do not give up and have already released genetically modified animal feeds on the Irish market. This can dilute the GM issue in coming years where they can simply say we have been using genetically modified foods for years in Ireland ... only a valid argument if the population supports their clandestine work. Technically GM food IS therefore being consumed here. Most intensively produced conventional meat products in Ireland now have GM ingredients like GM soya and GM oil seed rape. The solution is to grow your own food using organic feeds and fertilisers or support those who do. A first step to ridding Ireland of GM foods would be to label all foods that do not contain GM as GM FREE. This is something that the government could be doing. It will take the producers and suppliers of GM FREE foods to take the iniative forward. For example a bright yellow, easily recognisable sticker, stating 'GM FREE FOOD', would assist the buying public in their efforts to support GM FREE producers and suppliers. An example of a feed manufacturer using GM ingredients in Ireland are Redmills. An example of a feed manufacturer producing organic feeds is Morrins in Wicklow. 2012: Teagasc reveal that there now are over 1 million tonnes of genetically modified grains used in animal feeds in Ireland each year. RELATED NEWS ARTICLES: 25 September 2012 Russia Suspends Imports Of GM Corn Due To Cancer Concerns Irish Independent 20th May 2011 Toxic Pesticides from GM food crops found in unborn babies UK Independent 28th September 2010 GM maize has polluted rivers across the United States |
