Introduction

"For thousands of years, humans have been selecting, sowing and harvesting seeds that produce food products. They have also been baking bread, brewing beer, making wine and cheese. Although they did not understand the genetic science involved, they were in fact using the principles of gene technology to make and modify plants and food products." (Sydney Morning Herald, 30/07/99)



"The survey shows that while Australians support the use of genetic engineering in medicine and agriculture, we are extremely wary about their use in foods... Ordinary folk are pretty sympathetic to genetically engineered foods, but they want them labelled. They want a choice." (Sydney Morning Herald, 03/08/99)



"This is the great irony of the biotech debate. While environmentalists rail against GMOs, the on-farm consequence is lower chemical use, and hence lower chemical residues in the environment and in food." (Australian 26/05/99)



"Research that found pollen from a genetically engineered strain of corn can kill monarch butterflies has sparked concern over whether the crop is harming other insects - and doing damage to the food chain. The strain is called Bt corn and has been touted by the industry as a way to fight a major pest without using chemicals. It accounted for more than 25 per cent of the 40 million hectares of corn planted in the United States in 1998" (AAP news service, 20/05/99)



"Professor Birch said at present world production of trans genic crops had risen to 40 million hectares last year from 1.7 million in 1996. "Genetically modified food is the safest food produced in the world and not a sneeze or a rash can be attributed to eating it." he said." (AAP news service, 28/03/00)