[rutc_s10]

Following on rutc_s22's idea that GM crop's could have a potential risk; GM crops do reduce biodiversity, which means that they could all be killed off by the same disease. Also, they may have a potential risk for humans, as most of them are modified to become more resistant, (to substances such as viruses) this may be passed down the foodchain to humans, and make use resistant to certain substances, which could cause problems.

[rutc_s26]

In response to the point rutc_16 made, ok it is debatable that we are using 3rd world nations as a test centre, which of course has serious ethical issues attached, however we are still not allowing untested, unreasonable crops to be provided, moreover if we can do some good with 'testing' we might as well offer it rather than allowing the technology which could revoloutionise lives go to waste.

[rutc_s1]

Giving these poverty stricken people some GM Crops that will help prevent blindness is not going to solve the rest of their problems. They will still be living with disease, drought and lack of medical centres. GM Crops are in my opinion very low on the agenda for solving poverty. It seems to me as just another big business tactic to get people to invest in their companies therefore enabling them to produce more for cheaper but selling at the same price, if not more expensive (due to supposed health benefits).

[rutc_s5]

[rutc_s15]

(Antony again)
Another problem with gm crops is that they may increase risk of war if forced on countries due to the inability to accept them in some countries, as was proved when a diplomatic envoy ended up in a punch up when a german proclaimed it was widely known english sausages weren't sausages but bangers due to their low meat content. If people get that stressed about food discussions which don't involve GM then there could be a lot of hostility when GM is involved.

[rutc_s2]

I agree with rutc_s26, i believe it is a big ethical issue to whether we issue these third world countries with GM crops, just because they dont have the same sort of ecology focus beacuse they are more focus on day to day subsistance. Can we say that we are using these people as experimental guinea pigs to test out GM crops?

[rutc_s2]

[rutc_s7]

In my opinion, when the reason for producing GM crops is to improve people's quality of life through their diet (such as rice rich in vitamin A or tomatoes with a longer shelf life etc.) then there should be no problem with its production. However, the entire concept of genetically modifying food is very recent and GM crops have only been on the market since the '90s, therefore my main concern is that we have no idea what the long term effects are. Until we are 100% sure that there are no negative effects of these GM crops, the greatest care should be taken to prevent the GM crops from spreading into wildlife.

[rutc_s7]

Another point I'd like to raise is the fact that some GM crops contain a gene that makes them resistant to antibiotics. When we eat these crops, there is a risk of the bacteria in our gut developing the same resistance. Is this a concern to anyone else?

[nc_s4]

The resistance to antibiotics is the factor that makes me believe genetically modified crops have not be tested to the extent that they should be before they are lisenced and introduced into shops. I think that until further tests have been completed the risk of resistance to antibiotics is too great to ignore.

[nc_s15]

Many poeple believe that these genetically modified crops will solve starvation in developing countries. I agree something needs to be done however feel that GM crops is not the answer. These countries grow enough food to adequatly feed themselves however the vast majority is shipped over to prosperous countries such as the UK. I feel if this issue was addressed then there would no need for the potentially dangerous GM crops.

[rutc_s22]

Yerrrp, I agree with the comments nc_s15 and nc_s4made!!! The issues which are preventing 3rd world countries to feed themselves, when they are producing enough need to be addressed!!!

I think if GM Foods are to be introduced, they need to be tested [on non-human animals or ourselves??] for at least 5-6 years to investigate any long term consequences. Apparantly it takes 5-6 yrs for allergies etc to be identified!

We are already becoming immune to antibiotics and even stronger drugs are having to be produced, so to worsen that situation even more would be producing GM Crops with an antibiotic resistant gene- especially in places where the healthcare cannot even provide antibiotics of any sort!!!

There's just a lot of risk involved ...we could destroy the whole ecosystem !!!

[rutc_s24]

A problem with GM is that it may effect people's health in some as yet undiscovered way, and more research should be made into potential side efffects of the crops, or we may be creating a whole new problem...

[rutc_s9]

in response to rutc_s24, GM could be the answer to the Food and medical crisises we face in many parts of the world however we do not know what the longterm effects or ailments maybe, this doesn't mean we should refuse to export or import the goods instead that we should devoted more resources into finding these longterm effects and other possible ailments before we simply write them off as useless.