Who benefits from genetically modified food and crops?
Pro-biotechnology scientists and firms have pointed out that GM food products have now been on the market for several years, without a single reported case of adverse effects on human health. Against this, it has been argued that possible long-term impacts would not become clear for some years. Potential environmental impacts will be particularly difficult to predict, monitor and manage. As scientists readily admit, no technology is ever 100 per cent safe. Potential risks must be weighed against potential benefits and compared with risks and benefits of traditional agriculture. Such risk-benefit analyses should be done at different levels: at a national level, by Governments and regulatory agencies; at production level, by farmers and firms; and at the individual level, by consumers. The first group of GM crops introduced mostly yields benefits for commercial farmers and private sector firms. For farmers, insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant crops produce somewhat higher yields and
