Paul Voosen, “Ghost of ‘Frankenfood’ Haunts Europe,” Greenwire, October 21, 2009

The second of a five-part series, this article examines in some depth how a number of European countries came to turn their backs on genetically modified (GM) crops. Belgian scientists apparently experimented with GM plants in the 1980s and instituted 50 different field trials, positioning Europe to be a world leader in plant biotechnology. A public backlash, fueled by fears over mad cow disease and food safety, followed the European Union’s approval of a pesticide-resistant corn, and no GM crop has since been approved.

European scientists, concerned about the politicization of science, are apparently considering ways to restore public confidence in scientific integrity and the safety of GM crops. The Dutch have apparently proposed that the EU allow each member nation to make its own decision about whether to allow GM crops after giving consideration to a broad range of issues, including human safety, biodiversity, “cultural heritage,” and economics. The Dutch are reportedly hoping that this approach, which also emphasizes the benefits of biotechnology, such as reduced pesticide and herbicide use, will put the technology in its “proper place,” and give farmers the opportunity to move forward with the cultivation of GM crops. The matter will be fully debated in 2010, when the EU’s 27 member nations present their proposals to a new European Commission that will consider whether to revise the union’s GM policies.