Keeping in mind that the UNDP supports the use of biotechnology to produce new varieties of staple crops, do you agree with their argument that much has and can continue to be done to harness the power of technological progress to the needs of the poor in developing countries? What role is there for biotech crops in these countries?

The recently published United Nations Human Development Report shows that significant improvements in health, nutrition and living standards for the world's poorest people have actually been achieved in the past 30 years, largely as a result of technology, globalisation and market forces.

Do you agree with UNDP's argument that much has and can continue to be done to harness the power of technological progress to the needs of the poor in developing countries? What role is there for biotech crops in these countries? >>background materials

I agree with the argument. It would help a lot of people if genetic engineering carries.

Bob Shitze
UK
malcolm@mmellor.freeserve.co.uk

I am a farming journalist and local town councillor. A pressure group trying to stop local GM trials has been putting out what I believe to be false and alarmist information regarding GM crop trials and their affects on the public. Please could you answer the following questions?:
1. Does pollen from oilseed rape cross pollinate anything other than oilseed rape?
2. Does the genetically modified part of the plant DNA have any chance of invading the cells within the human body? If not, how is it destroyed when ingested and how quckly does this occur?
3. Can the use of Roundup affect the micro-organisms within the soil (such as fungi) or earthworms?
Please respond with any information that will help to put a positive slant into the local press!

Brent Roach
Driffield, East Yorkshire
brent@eaglepub.fsnet.co.uk

Your views on hunger and the benefits of GM technology for the third world are cynical and deserve criticism. Time after time it has been proven that the problem of 3rd world hunger is not shortage of food but other factors such as distribution, debt etc. Many countries starve while at the same time are forced into exporting cash crops. Many other countries starve due to a lack of basic funds to develop agriculture while at the same time paying heavy internation debt. There is plenty of food in the world to feed everyone, don't lie to us with your hollow statements about how you can feed the hungry, your motivation is for profit.

Kevin Gallagher
Taiwan
keving@ms1.hinet.net

Taking into consideration an apparent climate of fear and apprehension amongst people from many parts of the world, introducing GM foods into the supply chain may be described, at best, as insensitive. Public fears over food safety are, without doubt, very real. The food industry, as far as the general public is concerned, is perceived as having adopted production practices inconsistent and contrary to moral and ethical demands, both in terms of environment well-being and to protecting and promoting public health. Policies, based on distancing consumer from point of food production and supply, practices which rely on intensive measures and quantity as opposed to target social group quality consideration, alienate consumer from marketing equation. Global marketing must not be allowed base and extention from conglomerate dictate. Food production policy must be based on local demands and bias, with due regard for specific preference born from tradition, custom and economic status, underlined by empirical data.

Progress, a term often linked with change but without tangable evidence of general benefit, cannot be said to apply within context of GM until it has achieved acceptance by people from all walks of life. I would contend that this may only be reached by a policy geared to change from within and not from above. Change from within requires attention on a local level, dealing with specific concerns and reaching solutions within a known and understood ecosystem.

Automation must not replace craft skill merely for the sake of cost minimisation. Public perception of safety appears to favour food production methods which have stood the test of time. Change must be allowed time. GM is an issue which must be integrated gradually and handled with care !!!

Michael Charles
Cyprus
ifcis@hotmail.com

We must thank Andrew Scott for revealing the level of paranoia that accompanies the current mistrust of the development and use of biotechnology. Even if this discussion list was moderated, Andrew's contribution would have made it in on entertainment value alone.

Mark Fisher
West Yorkshire
mark.fisher@care4free.net

I would like to check and see if this is honestly an unmoderated and open discussion message board.

The topic of Genetically Engineering our food is one of great interest to me. I personally believe that it is not a good thing and that we should wait and study this idea more before we advocate it any further. While I must admit that I have not studied the ins and outs of genetically modifying plant material, that does not mean I do not know deceipt when I see it.

As far as I have been able to tell, this site is nothing more than propaganda for an unscrupulous company. If this company really has half the heart it claims to have, then this post will stay on this site as a show of actual consciousness at work. My hypothesis is that it will never be posted.

Sincereley,

Andrew T. Scott
California
nospam@tathata.org

Having heard all the anti-GM arguements in recent years, it made a change when I attended a conference from the Crop Protection association. There is little or no health risk to us - for example, insect tolerant crops will not release mycotoxins. It is also clear that it makes economic sense. To control weeds via non chemical means would not only take a long time, but also cost more money. There are also issue on food supply, a key issue when talking about LDCs. It offers the oppurtunity to grow in drought for example. Therefore, it deserves its chance to contribute to world poverty, even if it cannot (unfortinately) change the policies of dictators. GM can help where war, infrastructure and politics corrode the food supply to LDCs.

Tim Davies
Powys
timmy1d@hotmail.com

The United Nations report confirms that technology such as biotech can help the developing world. The Greenie-Weenies who are trying to keep people in that part of the world from obtaining this technology are guilty of ignorance.

Ian Wright
London
ian2371@hotmail.com

Strongly support biotechnology. As an Agronomist I worked in the fields many years in several continents. I do believe that this technology can help farmers and consumers in both developed and undeveloped countries.

Ruggero Cimatti
Milan, Italy
rcimatti@tin.it

Background Materials:

• Report Of The New Zealand's Royal Commission On Genetic Modification

• Making New Technologies Work For Human Development - UNDP Report,
  United Nations Development Programme, 07/10/01

• The UN’s Human Development Report - Let Them Eat More,
  The Economist, 07/13/01

• Third World Needs GM Aid,
  The Scotsman, 07/11/01

• Listing Of Recent Articles From The UK Regarding The U.N. Human Development Report,
  Biotech Knowledge Centre, 07/13/01

• Biotech In The Third World: A Hostage Of Eco-Propaganda,
  Agence France-Presse, 07/20/01

• STI/CID Report On Public Attitudes Towards Ag Biotechnology In Developing Countries,
  Center for International Development at Harvard University (CID), 07/23/01