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Food safety is at the very forefront of public and media conciousness as an area that has direct consequences for us all in our daily lives. In the UK, a number of health scares in the past few years - notably salmonella in chicken and eggs and outbreaks of BSE in British cattle - have brought farming practices and methods of food production under intense public scrutiny. Moreover, recent advances in the genetic manipulation of farm produce, while providing farmers with greater yields and more reliable crops, have provoked a storm of opposition from many sectors of the public who are suspicious of suppliers' claims that genetically modified food is safe to eat. Reflecting consumers' concern, the supermarket chain Iceland has banned GM foods from its shelves, and others may soon follow suit. While there is still a question hanging over the safety of GM food, the government is putting millions of pounds into boosting the domestic organic food industry (less that 4% of British farmland is currently devoted to growing chemical-free, non-GM crops), increasing subsidies for organic farms and funding research into organic farming methods. | ![]() |
ORGANIC
FARMING AND GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD
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OFFICIAL SOURCES | THE DEBATE | |
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) - the government's policy on organic farming, including its 'Action Plan to Develop Organic Food and Farming in England', together with research, statistics, and further information on the organic sector. Department of Trade and Industry's Bioguide -an overview of the UK's biotechnology industry, with an emphasis on Genetically Modified Organisms, and including an explanation of the Health and Safety Executive's role in regulating GMO poduction. Food Standards Act 1999 - current legislation regulating the growth and production of food in the UK. Nuffield Council on Bioethics - an independent body funded by The Nuffield Foundation, The Wellcome Trust, and The Medical Research Council. It has endorsed the government's approach to GM foods, calling for careful monitoring but no moratorium on genetic practices. The Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission - the government's strategic advisory body on biotechnology issues affecting agriculture and the environment. Features a public debate on GM crops. The Food Standards Agency -guidance on food safety and organic, including a 'GM Factsheet'. The Environment Agency -offers advice to farmers on acceptable farming methods and best practice. Review of Recent UK and European Research Regarding Reduction, Regulation and Control of the Environmental Impacts of Agriculture - a paper presented to the Scottish Executive, including a review of the human health implications of the use of pesticides and herbicides. FAO - the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
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The Soil Association - one of the UK's leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming. Five Year Freeze Campaign - calling for a 5-year moratorium on genetic engineering in farming while further research is carried out into the safety of GM food. Genetically Modified Food News - anti-GM news site, containing links to over 2000 articles and reports from the world's press. Greenpeace - the environmentalist organisation is currently campaigning against 'genetic contamination' in world agriculture. Friends of the Earth's Real Food Campaign - lobbying against the use of pesticides and genetic modification. Monsanto - US corporation involved biotechnology and developing genetic techniques in agriculture. Pioneer Hi-Bred International - US company developing and supplying advanced plant genetics to farmers worldwide. foodfuture - The Food and Drink Federation's programme to improve public understanding of genetic modification. Explains the technology and addresses the moral issues of GM production. Institute of Grocery Distributors - information, research and education for the food and grocery industry. Offers factsheets on GM food and the issue of labelling, and on pesicide residue in groceries. The New Scientist GM Food Special Report - articles from the New Scientist relating to the GM debate. The World News Network GM Food page - contains articles related to GM food from the press around the world. The Guardian Special Reports on organic farming and GM food. Organicfood.co.uk - organic 'lifestyle magazine'. Major supermarkets' policies on GM products: Iceland, Marks & Spencer, Safeway, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose. |
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SCIENCE AND RESEARCH | ||
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) - the leading funding agency for academic research and training in the biosciences at universities and institutes throughout the UK. Rowett Research Institute - researching basic biological sciences relating to nutrition. Where Dr Arpad Pusztai conducted controversial experiments showing rats reacting adversly to GM food. National Institute of Agricultural Botany - based in Cambridge and providing technical services to governments, supra-governmental agencies, agribusiness, the food industry and farmers. Research includes genetic resources and pesticide reduction. Institute of Food Research - research centre specialising in food safety, diet and health. National Institute for Biotechnology Education - centre specialising in genetic research, based at Reading University. Institute of Food Science and Technology (UK) - the professional qualifying body for food scientists. European Food Information Council - an independent organisation providing consumers with 'science-based' information about food safety and quality. The Processors and Growers Research Organisation - the UK centre for applied research on temperate peas and beans.
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BSE AND CJD | |
The Philips BSE Inquiry - full report to Parliament, including all supporting evidence. Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) - the government's policy on BSE with details on recent legislation and information on recent outbreaks. Department of Health - CJD pages providing news, figures, and monitoring of the disease in humans. Consumer Association's monthly report on BSE - referenced reviews of science news, general news and official figures. Human BSE Foundation - support group for vitims of CJD and their families. |
BSE Controls Review - site devoted to BSE news and information. Includes the Food Standards Agency's report on the recent BSE controls review. British Medical Journal - CJD site, including a citation index and abridged forms of articles pulished in the BMJ relating to Creutzfeld Jakob Disease. UK Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit - summary of research into CJD being carried out by the specialist team of neurologists and scientists at the University of Edinburgh. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) - an international organisation comiling data on animal disease throughout the world. Features up-to-date databases for all animal diseases including Foot & Mouth and BSE. |
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