Genetically modified (GM) crops are those plants whose genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination. It enables a sequence of genes resonsible for a particular trait to be inserted into another organism with needing to cross fertilise, so that the trait will express itself in exactly the same manner.

Genetic Modification is becoming a hot potato. People promoting GM technology believe it has the potential to answer any number of difficult biological and other issues, and make money. Those against GM food believe that, however well intentioned it may sound, there is the potential to create unpredicatable consequences. Look what can happen when you import a species to be useful only for it to end up a pest. Imagine how much worse this could be at the gene level? GM crops cover over 100 million hectares of land, yet no ill effects have been found. 

In order to work out what you are going to do, you need to work out where you stand :

Find out who is coming for dinner.

Consider the main issues of concern:

HEALTH | ENVIRONMENT | OWNERSHIP | FOOD SECURITY | INTERNATIONAL LAW

Use these links to take you to other web resources for more on GM issues: Soil Association Monsanto Ag BioTec Infonet

See the GMO debate which looks carefully at the science behind GM.