British Council-biotechnology
Transcript of the podcast
Frank: So why are you so against genetically modified food then? I think you’ve been taken in by all the bad press
Ann: No, that’s not true. I’ve read up on the subject and I think there are just too many risks
Frank: The GM foods that you get are probably safer than non GM foods
Ann. Don’t be daft. Where’ve you got that from
Frank: Well, there are tighter controls for GM food. There are controls in each country and then at a European level as well. If they pass through all of those controls before they reach the shops they must be ok
Ann: I just don’t like the idea of having my food altered. What’s wrong with the food we’ve always had
Frank: We have to move with the times. The possibilities for GM food are endless
Ann: What redder tomatoes or bigger strawberries
Frank: Yes, for one thing but what about vegetables with a higher vitamin content or bananas with vaccines built into them
Ann: What
Frank: It’s true. They’ve developed a way to produce bananas with the Hepatitis B vaccine
Ann: Mm, not sure what I think of that. We haven’t done enough research and playing around with crops is playing havoc with the wildlife. There are whole species of birds that are in danger of becoming extinct. Larks for example,they are rapidly decreasing in numbers and it’s because of the chemicals they are using on GM foods
Frank: They haven’t proved that
Ann: Not yet, no. But it’s only a matter of time
Frank: Mm
Ann: And another think that worries me is the power that a few food companies will have we start to rely on GM food. They’ll dominate the poor countries even more than they do today
Frank: They’ll feed them
Ann: At a price, yes. Maybe. I’m worried about the food chain too
Frank: What do you mean
Ann: Well, playing around with nature causes no end of damage to some plants and animals. When a species dies out or mutates, it has a knock on effect on the whole ecosystem
Frank: I think you’re being cynical. You’re not giving GM food a chance
Ann: Not cynical, just cautious
Frank: Ok, consider this. Global warming is threatening to destroy the habitat of polar bears
Ann: What’s this got to do with genetically modified food
Frank: Everything. We could use GM food to change the polar bears’ habitat now. That way we can prevent them from becoming extinct
Ann: Ok, I quite like that idea
Frank: Good. You’re stating to come round to my way of thinking
Ann: No. I’m just trying to understand. I don’t like being a guinea pig and we are all being guinea pigs for the experiments they’re doing on GM foods. I guess I don’t like the way thing seem to just be happening without much of a debate
Frank: What do you mean? We’re talking about it all the time
Ann: Talking maybe, but nobody’s listening
