The Reunion

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The Reunion: The GM Crops Debate

The GM Crops Debate

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Kirsty Wark gathers those involved in to the GM crop debate in Britain in 1999.

Kirsty Wark hears from those caught up in the 1999 row over genetically modified crops.

Those in favour of genetically modified crops saw them as a way to solve the world’s food crisis and claimed they could bring about “the biggest revolution of a lifetime”.  Others thought that genetic modification went against the laws of nature, and would lead to so-called Frankenstein foods.

It all began in 1994 when the FlavrSavr tomato became the first genetically modified crop to be approved for sale in the US.  It eventually made its way to British supermarket shelves in the form of tomato puree, but when campaigners found out they boycotted retailers in an attempt to stop them from stocking it and other products derived from GM crops.

Over a series of months, activists ripped up fields of Government backed trials of GM maize and soya, Prince Charles went head-to-head with the pro-GM establishment, and supermarket chains were forced to reassure the public that they were free from GM “contaminated” products. 

Kirsty Wark talks to those at the centre of the debate:

Dame Joan Ruddock sat on the Select Committee for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 

John Gatehouse was a biochemist who helped develop GM. 

Tom Sanders was a member of the UK Committee on Novel Foods. 

Sue Mayer was the founder of anti-GM organisation, GeneWatch.

Alan Simpson was the Labour MP who clashed with Tony Blair over GM.

Jim Thomas was a young activist with Greenpeace.

Presenter: Kirsty Wark
Producer: Howard Shannon
Series Producer:  David Prest 

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