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Last year, Ireland imported 3.47m tonnes of feed into the country, over 50% of which was genetically modified (GM) according to figures from the Department of Agriculture.
It compounds an open hypocrisy where Irish and European farmers rely heavily on GM feed imports but are prevented from cultivating any crop which is classified as GM under European law.
GM-free products are gaining prominence in certain high-value European markets and the US Departments of Agriculture is to apply GM labels to food products. However, Ireland’s reliance on GM protein imports complicates the potential for launching GM-free brands, where so far Centenary Thurles is the only dairy processor that has announced it is to launch a brand of GM-free products.
As further restrictions are placed on key pesticide actives such as glyphosate, the question also needs to be asked if GM could help strengthen crop production by enhancing disease and pest resistance in crops.
The debate over GM and its potential versus its safety is ongoing, but the refusal to permit research into the area could hamper European crop production in a global market that makes free use of GM.
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