Letter: Feeble GM crops

Wednesday 14 July 1999 00:02 BST

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: We should not be surprised to learn that GM corps need just as many chemicals and have unreliable yields (report, 8 July).

If you distort the genetic foundations of a living organism (such as a cotton, maize or soya plant) its physiology will be impaired and it will more easily succumb to environmental stresses. Such plants will not thrive unless they are shored up by pesticides and will be prone to failure.

I have heard, repeatedly, the claim that there is nothing to be concerned about in releasing GMOs into our environment because they are weakened and will not be able to compete nor "run wild". Is it sensible, then, to base our staple food supplies on GM crops?

JOANNA CLARKE

Glasgow

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Letter: Feeble GM crops

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering