Norwich last week was the epicentre of the international GM debate, with the John Innes centre - Britain's leading GM research group - bringing together scientists worldwide to debate how to feed the world. Most, unsurprisingly, were in favour of GM. Meanwhile, environment groups attracted 350 people to a parallel  meeting which featured women from the Deccan Development Society (DDS) who argued that GM was useless and harmful.

Also, there was Percy Schmeiser, a Canadian farmer who had recently lost his case against Monsanto after his land was found to be growing GM crops which he had not planted.

Monsanto, to give them their credit, braved its audience and answered everything thrown at them. Interestingly, the JIC meeting was guarded by police and no one from the  parallel conference was invited to talk or to even listen to opposing arguments.

Natural remedies

The John Innes centre should think about holding its next meeting at the HQ of the Deccan Development Society which would love to play host. The scientists might raise their eyebrows at what has been achieved there in 10 years of sustainable' farming.

The DDS works with more than 80 of the world's poorest villages on some of the most degraded soils in India. In 10 years they have massively increased their yields and incomes using updated traditional methods.

Incidentally, according to the women who came over, a tried and trusted way to prevent foot and mouth is to feed cows a bunch of fenugreek and a banana, which they say acts as a vaccination. And should the animals get it, then they recommend a poultice of neem leaves applied very gently to  the hooves.
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“For some,talk of ‘sustainable agriculture ’sounds like a luxury the poor can ill afford.But in truth it is good science,addressing real needs and delivering real results.For too long it has been the preserve of environmentalists and a few aid charities.It is time for the major agricultural research centres and their funding agencies to join the revolution.” ””New Scientist, 3 February 2001