Ask a politician: GM too unpredictable says Fitzsimons

Q: To Jeanette Fitzsimons:

What is it we have to be so afraid of with GM organisms?
- Margaret Hawkins, Mt Wellington


A: Genetically engineered/modified organisms are unpredictable. Scientists cannot control where the new genes end up in the new organism, nor do they know exactly how the new organism will react under different conditions.

There have been completely unexpected side-effects, such as pest-resistant potatoes becoming more attractive to other pests. Genetically engineered food may contain novel toxins or allergens.

Once genetically engineered organisms are released into the environment, there is no getting them back if they turn out to be a disaster.

Other plants will inevitably be contaminated by their introduced genes, as United States and Canadian farmers have found out. In Canada, Roundup Ready canola has become a weed, spreading through fields on the roadside.

We rely on our clean and green image to sell our food exports round the world. That reputation could be lost forever if we release genetically engineered organisms here, with huge costs to organic and conventional farmers.

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