Nuffield Council announces follow-up discussion paper to
Genetically modified crops: ethical and social issues
Mon, 31 March 2003
the Nuffield Council announces it is to re-assess the conclusions and recommendations of its Report in the light of recent developments, with particular reference to developing countries.
For immediate release
Genetically modified crops: ethical and social issues
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics provoked considerable discussion with the publication of its Report, Genetically modified crops: ethical and social issues in 1999. The Report recommended that, if the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops in developing countries could be shown to be a cost-effective way to reduce malnutrition, there was a moral imperative to encourage the application of GM technology. Now, three years on, the Nuffield Council announces it is to re-assess the conclusions and recommendations of its Report in the light of recent developments, with particular reference to developing countries.
On the evidence available in 1999, the Nuffield Council concluded that GM crops could provide significant benefits to developing countries, provided that potential risks to health and the environment could be managed. Possible benefits included increased yields, enhanced pest resistance and tolerance to stress, improved nutrition, and new products, such as vaccines produced in crops. However, there were several unanswered questions when the Council’s Report was published. Some of these remain, but a range of new scientific evidence is now available to help assess the potential of the technology. GM crops have been grown on a considerable number of small-holding farms in developing countries over the last three years. Recent trends in poverty and hunger in developing countries also need to be considered. Rural poverty has become an increasing concern, while at the same time improvements in crop yields have slowed. Water shortages are also more acute, as discussed at the World Water Forum last week. The potential application of GM technology will be considered in the context of developments in regulation, trade, intellectual property rights and consumer attitudes.
“We feel it is timely, in the light of recent developments, to re-assess the recommendations we made in the 1999 Report,” commented Dr Sandy Thomas, Director of the Nuffield Council. The Council will publish a draft Discussion Paper on the topic for consultation in June 2003. The potential application of GM in developing countries is often neglected in the UK debate. It is hoped that the Council’s paper will contribute to the national dialogue on GM taking place this year.
Notes to editors:
1. For further information please contact:
Nicola Perrin on 020 7681 9627 or e-mail nperrin@nuffieldbioethics.org
2. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is an independent body which examines the ethical issues raised by developments in medicine and biology. Established in 1991, it is funded by The Nuffield Foundation, the Medical Research Council and The Wellcome Trust. www.nuffieldbioethics.org
3. The Report, Genetically modified food: ethical and social issues, was published in May 1999 and is available to download from the Council’s website at:
www.nuffieldbioethics.org/gmfoods
Printed versions can also be ordered from the website.
4. Members of the Working Group
Dr Sandy Thomas (Chair)
Director, Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Professor Derek Burke CBE
Former Vice Chancellor of the University of East Anglia and Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes (1988-97)
Professor Mike Gale FRS
Associate Research Director, The John Innes Centre, Norwich
Professor Michael Lipton
Poverty Research Unit, University of Sussex
Professor Albert Weale FBA
Professor of Government, University of Essex and member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics
5. Terms of Reference
1 To briefly examine recent, current and prospective developments in the use of genetically modified crops in developing countries, in particular:
i) to review recent progress of research in the use of genetically modified crops in developing countries
ii) to identify current and possible applications of genetically modified crops that would be of particular benefit to developing countries;
2 to re-examine and assess arguments set forth for and against the use of GM genetically modified crops in developing countries;
3 to assess the consequences of a moratorium on the use of genetically modified crops in developing countries;
4 to produce a short publication.
Last Updated Thu, 24 June 2004