Morrisons GM poultry feed changes are supported by evidence
Sir: Morrisons’ decision to allow GM feed to be used in poultry diets is pragmatic and should be followed by other retailers. While parts of Europe may remain hung up on GM, the rest of the world is moving on.
We don’t dispute that non-GM sources of feed are available, but they are at a price that may, in the long run, prove unsustainable both to poultry farmers and hard-pressed consumers, who are already dealing with rising food prices and negligible income growth.
Consumer safety is underpinned by a robust evidence-based process, leading to rigorous assessment of feed imports that contain GMs. That the independent European Food Safety Authority established in 2007 that recombinant DNA from GM plants used in feed does not end up in the final meat, milk or eggs is critical.
Technology needs to continue to advance to provide farmers with solutions to help them produce more with less impact.
GM is not a panacea but it may well play a part. It is not Morrisons that is out of touch on GM, but Joanna Blythman.
Tom Hind, NFU director of corporate affairs