Decoding the GM debate

If you're looking for a topical issue that polarises opinion, you can't go past genetic modification (GM). At one end of the spectrum, GM food is the answer to world hunger, at the other, it's a ticking time bomb set to wreak havoc on human health and the natural world.

For thousands of years, people have been altering the genetic make-up of plants and animals by crossbreeding closely related organisms with desirable characteristics. Genetic modification, which involves copying genes from one species into another, provides a way to fast track this process - and also to massively expand the possibilities. Supporters say GM can make agriculture greener by enabling farmers to use less pesticide and switch to safer herbicides, for example. Critics say GM crops pose threats to human health and the environment.
Read article