Anti-GMO groups losing European stronghold

LONDON – The traditional bulwark of anti-genetically modified organism (GMO) advocates appear to be slipping as Europe opened its doors to a major biotechnology research in the United Kingdom (UK), and as a major European food company stood its ground against a Europe-based international pressure group.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair recently backed GM food trials in Cambridge, defying protests launched by groups, which branded GM crops as "Frankenstein food". Blair pledged "to defend science against these misguided groups". He said these groups "will not be allowed to stand in the way of legitimate breakthroughs".

Blair was reportedly furious at attempts made by pressure groups to disrupt the GM food trials. "It is completely unacceptable for people to try and disrupt legitimate research," Blair said.

In a related development, giant global food manufacturer Nestle lashed out at international pressure group Greenpeace after the latter demanded that Nestle, a Switzerland-based firm, stop using GM ingredients in its food products due to alleged health and environmental concerns.

Nestle blasted Greenpeace for its failure to come up with clear proof that food ingredients derived from genetically modified crops are unsafe for human consumption. Nestle also criticized the pressure group "for refusing to accept the opinion shared by international scientific bodies worldwide that GM crops are as safe as their conventional counterparts."

Greenpeace also came under fire from leading food manufacturers in the Philippines after it demanded that the companies buy their raw materials from Greenpeace’s list of suppliers. The Philippine companies said the Greenpeace proposal is more expensive and does not guarantee availability and consistency in the supply of raw materials.

Filipino scientists also criticized what they labeled as "scare campaign against GMOs".

Leading Philippine food manufacturers recently decried the alleged "undue pressure" exerted on them by European environmental group Greenpeace which demanded that they stop using raw ingredients derived from genetically-modified (GM) food.

Greenpeace official Lindsay Keenan recently told local companies "to demand for non-GM raw materials from suppliers abroad despite the abundant supply of GM commodities in the world."

Greenpeace has reportedly been pressuring local food manufacturers including General Milling, Co. and industry groups such as the Association of Feed Millers.

Greenpeace has also reportedly insisted that the local companies source their raw materials from a list of suppliers supported by the political group. Keenan, however, admitted that sourcing raw materials from Greenpeace suppliers "would mean additional costs of about $1,000 per 16,000 metric tons of the shipment".

General Milling Corp. director for corporate affairs Ric Pinca, in an interview, said the giant manufacturer "could not easily shift to non-GMO raw materials".

"There is a question on the availability and consistency of supply," Pinca said.

Local food manufacturers are also reportedly in a quandary on how the added cost will be handled. The additional costs will reportedly include expenses for various testing methods in preserving the shipment of non-GMO raw materials. The additional $1,000 per metric ton would affect the price of food products; the effect may have to be passed on to Filipino consumers.

Keenan argued, however, that the added cost is "minimal".

Pinca admitted that the company has to consider the list of Greenpeace suppliers. Greenpeace told local food manufacturers to import soya and corn from India and Brazil, instead of the United States and Argentina. This is because Argentina and US reportedly use genetically modified seeds, which have natural resistance to pests and therefore require less insecticide application.

Keenan, however, said GMOs are unsafe to humans and the environment.

Pinca disclosed, however, that the countries in Greenpeace’s suppliers list such as India do not export soybeans, which the giant manufacturer needs.

The anti-GMO position of Greenpeace enjoys massive support from local non-governmental organizations. The latter have organized mass action to uproot trial farms planted with GMO-type plants. They have also warned local government officials against supporting the entry of GMO plants in their respective provinces.