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Royal Society food report - Friends of the Earth reaction
21 October 2009
Commenting on a new Royal Society report on science and food, published today, Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner Kirtana Chandrasekaran said:
"Science has a key role to play in reducing hunger and poverty, but the report's focus on GM crops ignores mounting evidence that this technology is failing.
"GM crops are an extension of big-business factory farming that is already wiping out wildlife, destroying communities and making climate change worse.
"The UK Government has already invested millions of pounds in GM technology, with little benefit to farmers, consumers and the planet - meanwhile research into green farming methods have been starved of funds.
"Any attempt to combat the global food crisis must also address its root causes, such as industrial livestock production and a narrow focus on increasing yields - an analysis which is missing from the Royal Society report.
"A massive increase in investment is needed in agricultural science - but this should focus on supporting traditional farming methods and providing safe, planet-friendly food."
A more detailed assessment of the Royal Society report can be obtained from Friends of the Earth campaigners.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
1. The most comprehensive and rigorous global study ever done on agricultural science and technology, published last year, gave clear recommendations about the kind of science which could contribute to reducing hunger and poverty. It advocated diverse agro-ecological farming which is already being practiced by small scale producers and warned that public policy goals had to radically shift to promoting these methods rather than risky and unproven genetic modification of crops. The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report was conducted by over 400 scientists from more than 80 countries and sponsored by 5 UN agencies and the World Bank. 60 Governments including the UK signed up to its findings. http://www.agassessment.org/
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Oct 2009
