9 August 2000 Copenhagen Post http://www.cphpost.dk/ Environment Minister bans GM foods Andrew Miller This last week Environment Minister Svend Auken placed a ban on genetically altered foods. The ban has effectively forbidden the use of most kinds of genetically modified foodstuffs including corn, soy beans, tomatoes, potatoes and turnips. The news is a blow to the Danish Farmers Union and Danisco A/S who together have just announced the development of a number of genetically altered vegetables which have been proven to have no harmful effects on people or the environment. The block comes after news from the United States, where a recently developed strain of corn has been linked to problems in the monarch butterfly population. Developed at Cornell University laboratories, the corn naturally contains pest-killing bacteria that are harmless to humans, and were thought to be harmless to most other insects and animals. However, after the corn had been planted, it was discovered that airborne pollen from the crop had landed on other vegetation in the area. When non-pest insects, such as monarch butterflies, landed on the effected plants, they were killed by the bacteria as well. The discovery has environmental groups up in arms in both the United States and the EU, and is thought to be one of the main reasons behind Auken’s decision to block the introduction of any genetically altered produce. However, the block may be preventing farmers and genetic designers from improving environmental conditions. Last year the National Environmental Research Institute announced that their genetically altered turnips proved to be better for the environment than the regular variety. In the area around the Jutland town of Silkeborg, the group's studies have shown that the newly developed turnips resulted in healthier crops. Ironically these environmentally friendly turnips have now become the focus of negative attention from environmental groups, and it is thought by some observers that Auken is playing up to public sentiment with his decision rather than following the recommendations of his own advisers.