GM foods can harm indigenous farming : Nobel laureate
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=78882

Hyderabad: Genetically Modified (GM) foods could harm the interests of the indigenous farming community, Nobel laureate Professor Richard R Ernst cautioned today.

GM foods poses a potential danger to the very existence of small farmers as they were fast capturing the world consumer market, including those in the developing countries, Mr Ernst said while delivering a special lecture on 'Academic Responsibility and Our Goal' at the 93rd Indian Science Congress (ISC) here.

He said that governments should adopt new policies to ensure that the traditional farming community must survive the onslaught of the GM foods.

The Switzerland based Physicist said with USA as the only superpower, the global equilibrium of power has been lost.

He called upon the South Asian Countries to come together to strengthen economically and culturally on the lines of the European Union.

Stating that research was for the benefit of the society, Mr Ernst observed that scientists must be aware of their social responsibilities.

Asserting that research and technology could never be separated, he said scientists should strive for sustainable development.

''We need novel, comprehensive and lasting approaches to succeed in the competitive world,'' he said.