GM crops safe: wheat breeder
ABC Rural
November 13, 2007
One of the world's leading wheat breeders believes GM crops are not only safe, but hold the key to helping farmers cope with drought conditions and global warming.
Ian Edwards has worked as a plant breeder and genetic researcher for 42 years and says he is fed up having to de-bunk myths put forward by anti-GM lobbyists.
Dr Edwards wants governments to get behind GM technology, so it can be used to help farmers make money and look after the environment.
"Frankly genes for drought tolerance in our crops are going to become vital to us here in Australia," he says.
"We have a real salinity problem and GM has some very real options in salt tolerance.
"These are the kinds of things we are going to see a lot more of and in fact the environment is a major concern and actually it's also one of the major reasons for a change in public opinion attitudes significantly over the last year".
Source: ABC Rural
