GM industry losing momentum?
As disagreement between the EU and the USA over genetically modified (GM) food continues to undermine scientific relations, statistics show that companies are investing less in research than five years ago. Commentators are arguing that the GM food bubble may have now burst, resulting in a reduction in research investment, static profits, and a tightening up in labelling and import laws. The EU proposed new legislation on 25 July requiring all food containing GMOs to be traceable from the farm to the supermarket. This proposal is the first time that the EU has sought to introduce specific regulations on GM animal feed and to extend labelling laws to all food and feed, regardless of whether there is GM DNA or protein in the final product. The USA is lobbying European governments to change the proposed legislation as they believe it would cost US companies $4 billion each year. Some 70 per cent of the world's GM crops are grown in the USA, where no labelling for such foods is required. Modified grains are also often mixed with conventional crops during shipping. An EU spokesperson has however argued that the proposed legislation is 'absolutely necessary to foster consumer confidence' and trade in biotech foods. Another reason for the growing disinterest in GM foods is that the promised new generation of crops carrying health benefits for those who eat them has so far failed to materialise. This vision came a step closer to reality, however, when German scientists recently succeeded in producing a 'safe' genetically modified tomato which they believe could lead to a range of fruits and vegetables that give a health boost to consumers. The new tomato plant is recognised as safer as it has been engineered in a way that prevents its genes from passing to other crops. New techniques have also resulted in a higher concentration of the desired protein in the plant's edible tissues. Research breakthroughs of this kind and national government support for the GM industry may mean that the GM bubble will remain afloat for some time yet.