Ireland should work to have all-island status as GMO-free to maintain biodiversity, according to Minister of State for Agriculture Andrew Doyle.
The island, north and south, could be a “reservoir” of safe genetically modified organism-free (GMO) seed varieties in the event of an international food scare, he believes.
It is his personal view and contrary to that of Teagasc, [Ireland’s] Agricultural and Food Development Authority, which takes the “follow the science” view, he admits.
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Mr.Doyle, who has responsibility for food, forestry and horticulture, said: “We’re not going to be an organic island and I don’t think we should even try to. Organic has its place but it is not mainstream.”
However, he believes that Ireland could be a seed bank for mainstream arable crops such as wheat, oats and barley.
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The point he stresses is that it would be easier for Ireland to “isolate and keep things clear when you’re not on a big land continent”.
“The wind can cross-contaminate. But on an island off the continent on the west coast of Europe where the prevailing wind is, not always but mainly south-westerly, it doesn’t tend to blow from any other land mass.”
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