PPUK dismay at GMO research threat

Science not scythes - Evidence is vital for sound public policy

I am alarmed that the site of an experimental study will be targeted by anti-GM activists intent on destroying important research into genetically-modified wheat, and that this criminal destruction is being promoted by the Green Party using the euphemism "mass decontamination".

The Pirate Party believes that public policy should always be based on sound empirical evidence, not anti-science biases, uninformed conjecture or knee jerk reactions and this move is potentially disastrous. We need research into GMO to determine whether they are safe. To this end, research such as the experiment at Rothamsted must be allowed to continue and should be supported.

We do have concerns about GM research, including both the threat of cross-contamination and the ownership of genomes; we believe that 'intellectual property' should play no part in the food chain. However our concerns have been allayed by the Rothamsted team, who have pledged that no such patenting or private ownership will happen and that the risk of cross-contamination is sufficiently low.

Note: At some point on the 25th May 2012, the statement from the Green Party website became unavailable via their website, it remains available via Google's cacheing service here.

Loz Kaye
Party Leader
Pirate Party UK
@lozkaye

campaigns@pirateparty.org.uk

Contact:
press@pirateparty.org.uk
+44 (0) 161 987 7880