MPs attack 'Luddite' Charles for claiming GM food could create the world's worst environmental catastrophe

UK Daily Mail
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008

MPs have branded Prince Charles a 'Luddite' after he launched a scathing attack on GM crops.

The Prince of Wales warned that genetically modified food risked causing the world's worst environmental catastrophe.

In a passionate intervention, he accused accused multinational corporations of conducting an experiment with nature and humanity which had gone 'seriously wrong'.

But Labour MP Des Turner, who sits on the Commons all-party science committee, said: 'Prince Charles has got a way of getting things absolutely wrong. It's an entirely Luddite attitude to simply reject them out of hand.'

Mr Turner, a former biochemist, added: 'The whole point about GM crops is that they are not intrinsically evil and there are circumstances where they can be of great benefit.

'Some developing countries where for instance there is a problem with drought or salinity, if you can develop salt- or drought-resistant crops there are great benefits.'

Former biology lecturer Ian Gibson, Labour MP for Norwich North, said: 'Prince Charles should stick to his royal role rather than spout off about something which he has clearly got wrong.

'Scientists and others who have seriously looked at the problem have found no solid evidence that GM crops affect people's health.

'Where I agree with him is about big corporations thinking they can walk through people with their products.'

Full article here

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