Important biotech news today came from the British think tank Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The authoritative Nuffield Council reports that a moral obligation exists for the world's scientific community to develop genetically modified crops.

In its report, the Nuffield Council argues that the new technology is likely to bring benefits to Third World countries by helping to feed their rapidly growing populations and ease pressure on land.

In interviews members of the Nuffield Council have said that genetically altered foods "promise considerable benefits at the same time that they threaten some dangers".

The report asserts that genetically modified food available to consumers now is safe. However, it warns of the need for more rigorous regulation of changed crops so that they will not damage either health or the environment .

The Council is opposed to any ban against modified crops or foodstuff or a moratorium on commercial planting, all of which quite some European ecologist organisations have demanded.

A relevant statement from one of the Council members runs as follows:
"One of the messages of our getting the benefits and avoiding the dangers cannot be left to the marketplace alone. Intelligent government regulation is needed as well…."

The application of genetic modification to crops has the potential to bring about significant benefits, such as improved nutrition, enhanced pest resistance, increased yields and new products such as vaccines. The moral imperative for making GM crops readily and economically
available to developing countries who want them is compelling. The Council recommends a major increase in financial support for GM crop research directed at the employment-intensive production of food staples together with the implementation of international safeguards.

For the full report: http://www.nuffield.org/bioethics/publication/modifiedcrops/index.html

EuropaBio news release
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