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Irish potatoes to be genetically modified for first time ever

GM potatoes given go ahead as organic farmers oppose move

HILDA HIGGINS,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, July 27, 2012, 7:26 AM

Updated Friday, July 27, 2012, 10:27 AM

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Irish potatoes to be genetically modified for first time ever

Photo by Photobucket

An Irish food authority has been granted permission to carry out field trials on a genetically modified potato that could improve resistance to blight.

On Thursday, Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency announced it had given approval to Teagasc, Ireland's agriculture and food development authority, for the project which will be carried out at Oak Park, Co. Carlow over the coming four years.

Speaking on RTÉ radio, Teagasc’s head of crops John Spink said that it is currently assessing the eight conditions of the licence stipulated by the EPA.

"The control of blight, as any farmer will well know, is becoming increasingly challenging in Ireland; particularly in a wet year,” said Mr Spink.

“If we can get to the position where we're growing potatoes with much better resistance to blight, it will make the growing of potatoes more sustainable."

The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) have opposed the move.

"The European consumer is strongly against GM crops. This is based on independent Euro barometer research," the IOFGA's Gillian Westbrook said.

"We are opposed to this. Fundamentally, we feel this goes against Ireland's green credentials which we are actively trying to promote in Europe," she added.

Sir Walter Raleigh has been credited with bringing the first potatoes to Ireland in the 16th century.

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Mousemess | Jul 28, 2012, 09:54 PM EDT

If Monsanto wants to control the world's seeds and if Monsanto goes out of business or decides to withhold seeds for this reason or that from various countries, millions could starve. Say no to Monsanto and to GMOs. Here in the USA, Monsanto wants to plant GMO sweet corn and force it on people and we here fear that the can label would not have to say if the sweet corn was GMO or not. People who find out are protesting this and demanding that labels tell if that future canned sweet corn is GMO or not. People should have the right to decide what they going to eat. I am likely going to as much as an organic diet as I can to support the right to food choice.

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Mousemess | Jul 28, 2012, 09:40 PM EDT

A Theagaisc, Fan amach ona pratai! Stay away from the potatoes!

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Mousemess | Jul 28, 2012, 09:36 PM EDT

Once you genetically screw around with crops of all kinds, you lose control of them to companies. And you likely lose pre-existing naturally occuring genetic diversity and wind up with only one or two types of this and that and not much other variety other what is dictated to you. Bad move.

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bogsidebunny | Jul 28, 2012, 07:51 AM EDT

Although I totally disagree with the Irish on this point.....Here follows a prime example of the opinion of about 95% of the Irish in Ireland regarding GM products. It appeared in yesterday's "Irish Independent2 newspaper:..............I have just heard that a decision has been made for Teagasc to start outdoor planting and growing of GM potatoes in Ireland. This is beyond repulsive.The repercussions of this decision will be great, many and disastrous for the families of Ireland and the remaining few generations that may follow....Kevin William ......Dublin Irish Independent....Any attempt at producing GM potatoes in Ireland will be destroyed and the Gardai will stand by and do Nada, just like thay did 12 years ago.

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mhichil | Jul 27, 2012, 07:23 PM EDT

one reason you should trust them with your food supply,.. just one

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LolaJoyceJames | Jul 27, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT

This is terrible news. Here in the USA we are fighting tooth and nail in opposition to GMO's. Monsanto Corporation wants to control the food supply all over the world and will require farmers to buy their patented seeds. It will be illegal to re-plant your own seed potatoes. You must STOP GMO's. It will destroy your independent farming rights.

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Searlit | Jul 27, 2012, 12:50 PM EDT

McNamara31 has said it right! Also, recent testing in US has shown that women & children have been found to have these GMO's in their bloodstreams. Furthermore, these GMO potatoes seeds will contaminate other fields, as well. To me accepting any GMO's is like signing a death warrant. Ireland is too small a place to have such dangerous mutated crops. It's hard to believe the government has allowed this. There will be no way to protect your organic crops and farmers will be forced to buy their seed from the one company that has a patent on the GMO seeds. This is a bigger scare than unemployment!We all have to eat!

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Kilsally | Jul 27, 2012, 12:04 PM EDT

bad idea - irish spuds already excellent ,p particularly the Dublin Queen`s which are just out for sale right now

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wolfcarnahan | Jul 27, 2012, 11:38 AM EDT

There are SO many types of potatoes. Many are already blight-resistant. Just choose another variety.

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McNamara31 | Jul 27, 2012, 10:46 AM EDT

The greater issue addressing Irish food production is the creeping of (GM) Genetically Engineered food and feed into the Irish market. Because of this entry Ireland is on the verge of losing its very unique selling point of “ the most GMO-free brand in Europe.” For the past few years Ireland has allowed their cattle to be fed genetically engineered cattle feed made from soy and corn that had pesticide engineered into the seed so as the crop grows each cell contains weed killer. Beyond that, the government has now approved testing the first GM potato crops made from potatoes engineered with pesticide (or fungicides) in the same fashion as the cattle feed. One of the main reasons for the potato blight that started the famine in the 1800’s was that the potatoes were all from a common line of Irish potato so the blight made all potato’s vulnerable. Genetic Engineering scientifically produces the same result: a single genetic type of potato engineered to fight the known agents of the day; yet as nature always does, in time will create a blight or fungus that will wipe out that line of potato. Only by having a variety are you assured survival of any species.

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Portia777 | Jul 27, 2012, 09:37 AM EDT

Genocide in the making AGAIN.

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antoman | Jul 27, 2012, 08:50 AM EDT

We'll all die roaring like spuds lads.

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