FAO: GMOs CAN BE USED FOR GOOD AND FOR BAD

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO) REGIONAL
OFFICE FOR AFRICA, ACCRA - TEL. 675000/7010930

PRESS RELEASE NO.01/21

"GMOs CAN BE USED FOR GOOD AND FOR BAD,"
JACQUES DIOUF SAYS

FAO DIRECTOR-GENERAL UNVEILS TWO NEW PUBLICATIONS,
THE FIRST IN A SERIES ON ETHICS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Rome, 3 May 2001.- "Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), like
all the new technologies, are instruments that can be used for good and for
bad in the same way that they can be either managed to the benefit of the
most needy or skewed to the advantage of specific groups," the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Jacques Diouf said today.

"As scientific progress presents us with ever more powerful tools
and seemingly boundless opportunities, we must exercise caution and ensure
thorough ethical consideration of how these should be used. The benefits
deriving from GMOs, for example, should be shared more fairly with
developing countries and with resource-poo farmers. Above all, ways must be
found to guarantee that increased production benefits accrue to the poor and
food-insecure," FAO Director-General underlined.

The head of the UN specialized agency was commenting on two FAO
publications - the first in a new series dedicated to ethics in food and
agriculture - and on a report by an independent panel of eminent experts on
the major issues and challenges facing humanity today, including the need
for an equitable, ethical food and agriculture system.

The first publication, entitled "Ethical issues in food and
agriculture", introduces ethical questions as they relate to FAO's mandate
and describes a vision for building an ethical and equitable food and
agriculture framework.

"Today ethical concerns are central to debates about the kind of
future people want (...). Perhaps the most egregious problem is the
widespread bias against the hungry and the poor (...). A more equitable,
ethically-based, food and agriculture system must incorporate concern for
three widely accepted global goals, each of which incorportate numerous
normative propositions: improved well-being, protection of the environment
and improved public health," the paper says.

The purpose of the second publication, entitled "Genetically
modified organisms, consumers, food safety and the environment", is to share
the current knowledge of genetically engineered products in relation to
consumers, including the safety of their food and protection of their
health, and environmental conservation.

The paper seeks to unravel and explore the claims and counterclaims
being made in the GMO debate from an ethical perspective, considering issues
related to the ownership of the necessary tools to produce GMOs, the
potential consequences of their use and the undesirable effects that their
application could have, both now and in the future.

The publication advocates interaction and involvement of all
stakeholders in the decision-making process regarding GMOs. It underlines
that modern biotechnology, if appropriately developed, could offer new and
broad potential for contributing to food security. "However, it is not
possible to make sweeping generalizations about GMOs, each application must
be fully analysed on a case-by-case study."

Recently, FAO set up an internal committee on ethics in food and
agriculture to provide guidance and determine the scope of ethical issues
relevant to the Organization's mandate. "FAO is now addressing ethics in a
more systematic way, and is giving higher visibility to the ethical
dimensions of its work in an interdisciplinary manner across the various
technical fields," FAO expert Margret Vidar points out.

FAO has also established an independent Panel of Eminent Experts on
Ethics in Food and Agriculture to advise the Organization and raise public
awareness of ethical considerations associated with such vital issues as
food security for present and future generations and sustainable management
of the earth's limited resources.

In their report, the Panel of Eminent Experts says: "FAO should
support developing countries in increasing research and development related
to socially useful and environment-friendly biotechnologies, including - as
appropriate - the possible development of certain GMOs."

The Panel includes scientists from Ethiopia, China, Cuba, France,
Malaysia, Morocco, Norway and the United States, appointed for a four-year
period. They met, for the first time, last September and will meet again in
2002.

***

For further information on FAO ethics series papers, please call Margret
Vidar (tel.: 0039.06.57054260; email: [email protected]) or consult
website http://www.fao.org/ethics

Audio clips (2)

1. Dr. Asbjørn Eide, Norway, Chair of the Panel, is a Member of the UN
Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. In a News
Conference that took place in FAO, last 28 September 2000, he reported on
what the Panel addressed as the major potentials and risks of GMOS.
(1min58sec)

In Realaudio(241Kb)
ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/Radio/RealAudio/2001/Ethics-Dr-Asbjorn-Eide-e.rm

In mp3 (912Kb)
ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/Radio/Mp3/2001/Ethics-Dr-Asbjorn-Eide-e.mp3

2. Dr Francisco J. Ayala, USA, is a Professor of Biological Sciences and
Philosophy at the University of California at Irvine. Addressing the Press
at FAO HQs, last September, he reiterated the Panel's appeal to Corporations
to take into consideration the interests of others. (1min26sec)
.
In Realaudio(177Kb)
ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/Radio/RealAudio/2001/Ethics-DR-F-Ayala-e.rm

In mp3 (669Kb)
ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/Radio/Mp3/2001/Ethics-Dr-F-Ayala-e.mp3