GM raises its ugly head again

Breaking news on the BBC: "Chemical firm (BASF) applies for permission to grow GM potatoes in the UK". Full story is in the Guardian (see here).

We all know what will probably happen: the government will cave in, because despite its interventionist leanings, it's still obsessed with mollifying big business. It's not interested in public opinion, which helped block its attempts to force GM on to us a few years back.

GM is the ultimate in selfishness: GM crops have form when it comes to contaminating non-GM crops, which means organic farming will become more difficult - if not impossible (it was only yesterday that the Guardian reported on how GM rice is contaminating non-GM crops - see here). Ironically, retailers like Tesco are now rejigging their shelves to include organic produce in with normal produce because their popularity means they've outgrown their own section in stores. But clearly the government don't give a fig - after all, after his PR-spinning photocall with Jamie Oliver, Blair and his cronies have failed to do anything concrete with regard to improving school meals.

Which all makes BASF's statement, "I hope that society, including the NGOs, realise that all we are doing is increasing choice", all the more galling. Because if GM takes hold in this country, what price on us losing choice once GM starts infesting non-GM areas? And all because world governments would rather tackle environmental change with technology instead of encouraging people to grow up and start modifying their behaviour to think of other people.