High-level delegation asks Parliament to ease regulations on growing genetically modified plants

More than 300 doctorate-level scientists urge MPs not to base decision-making on hearsay but on scientific facts

print this

An exceptionally large and authoritative group of scientists handed a petition to Parliament on Tuesday.
      The petition requests that the Members of Parliament base their decisions in the lawmaking process regarding genetic modification on scientific facts instead of on hearsay and rumours.
      According to the assembled professors, the current legal undertakings aim to censor scientific freedom.
     
The petition had been signed by 557 people, of whom 312 had a doctorate level degree and of whom 210 served at least in the role of adjunct professor in the academic hierarchy.
      The signatories include 140 professors, three research directors, seven university deans, nine research institute directors, 12 university rectors, two university chancellors, plus a member of the Academy of Finland.
      The petition was handed to a group of MPs consisting of members of the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and the Environment Committee by a ten-strong delegation of Finland’s top plant breeding experts.
      According to the signatories, Finland and the EU have gone too far in setting limits to the development of genetically altered plants without basing this on scientific arguments.
      In practice, the scientists' main concern is the pending government bill that deals with the conditions under which the production of genetically modified starch potato could commence in Finland.
     
According to those handing in the petition, the majority of the researchers in the field are quite unanimous for example in their view that the suggested 18 to 30-metre safety zones between the genetically modified potatoes and other varieties are unnecessary.
      In an interview situation organised in connection with the handing in of the petition, the ten researchers present were concurrent that the safety zone could be limited to three metres as has been applied in Sweden.
      According to researcher Jussi Tuomisto from MTT Agrifood Research Finland, studies show that even 18-metre safety zones would reduce the size of arable area at Finnish potato farms by ten per cent.
     
The signatories’ main common concern, however, was that “because of false information” the MPs might end up banning genetic engineering of plants in Finland altogether.
      According to the professors, the vast majority of the plant breeding researchers understand the benefits of genetic modification, but in the public eye the arguments by “a couple of Turku-based adjunct professors” regarding the harmful effects of the technology have received an unreasonable amount of weight.
      These biologists argue that the chemical suppression of weeds will become more difficult when the genetically modified varieties’ tolerance to weedkillers spreads from them to the actual weeds.
      According to the professors, such fears are hugely exaggerated.
      Of the world’s arable area, one tenth - an area five times the size of Finland - is already being cultivated with genetically modified crops, but the spreading of resistance to chemicals between the plant species has not been detected, the delegation pointed out.
     
University of Helsinki Plant and Forest Breeding Professor Teemu Teeri pointed out that “the petition is not for or against anything, but simply a request that only scientific arguments would be used as criteria in the decision-making process.”
      According to Teeri, the most common misconception among the public at large is that the use of genetic manipulation techniques would be somehow more dangerous than the traditional techniques used in plant breeding.
      “Today’s genetic plant breeding is thousands of times more pure than the old-fashioned plant breeding techniques”, added adjunct professor Jussi Tammisola.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Poll: Widespread opposition to genetically-modified crops (21.8.2007)
  Farmers´ union wants labels on food indicating use of GM products (15.8.2007)

See also:
  Working group supports genetic manipulation of grain crops (12.1.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat