Scientists slam GM research3 November 2000
Scientific research backing an application for GM maize to be commercially sold to farmers is "inadequate" a public hearing was told today.
Scientists from the University of Bristol's Department of Clinical Veterinary Science told the national seed list hearing that nutrition tests on chickens, presented by biotech company Aventis, "is inadequate in terms of providing any evidence or conclusions. It is not of a standard that would be acceptable for publication in a scientific journal". Concerns were also raised about "suspicious" higher death rates among chickens that ate the GM maize during the study.
Aventis' research compared broiler chickens fed GM maize with those fed on conventional maize. Friends of the Earth approached Dr Steve Kestin and Dr Toby Knowles, scientists working on chicken studies for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to peer-review it.
During the hearing, leading experts have questioned Aventis' scientific evidence for the marketing of this GM forage maize. In particular, they have expressed concern over the failure to test the GM maize on cows (for whom the crop is being produced).
"Once again the 'sound science' of the biotech industry has been found sadly wanting. This shoddy study should never have been submitted to support the case for this GM maize to be granted a commercial licence. The fact that it was, and the Government did nothing about it, is a scandal. It's high time the cosy and unquestioning relationship between the biotech industry and Government was ended," said Policy and Campaigns Director, Tony Juniper. "The well-being of the public, health and environment must be put above vested interest and profit. Aventis can start today by withdrawing this GM application."
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