[First, there was a slight error (now rectified) with the FAO server on
Monday 22 May, which resulted in 10 lines being truncated from the 2nd
paragraph of the Moderator's comments on the message by Lorna Salzman. This
paragraph is thus reproduced in its entirety below. (p.s. we THOUGHT we had
rectified this error earlier today. Apologies for sending the paragraph
earlier, again without the 10 lines.)
Second, there are 3 days left of the conference, and we welcome any last
thoughts/views/conclusions that you might have on the theme of the
conference.....Moderator]
Below, we post a message that considers not just polarization of the debate on GM crops, but polarization of the debate in this conference and in paragraphs 6 and 8 directly considers FAO's role (pro or contra) regarding GM food. Although it is not directly relevant to the theme of the conference, we will in this exceptional case post the message. To see why FAO established this Forum, we recommend that one reads the Objectives, Background and Practicalities of the Forum (which people got in the Welcome Text on joining the Forum - also available on the Forum website http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp ). FAO has also published a Statement on Biotechnology http://www.fao.org/biotech/stat.asp . The statement is not cast in stone - it could change as the state of knowledge on biotechnology improves. The issues being raised in the current debate about biotechnology are such that FAO considers it appropriate to provide a platform for all shades of opinion on the subject to be expressed.
This is provided for in our constitution - to provide a forum for discussion on issues of relevance to the sustainability of food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries production. Safeguards for biosafety (including food safety), biodiversity and the environment are high on the FAO agenda. We take no sides in the discussions of the conferences in the Forum and we would modestly hope that, by providing a platform for people with different views to express themselves and to openly discuss their opinions, it might contribute to a reduction in polarization of the debate about biotechnology. We appreciated the sentiments expressed by Glenn Ashton, 19 May, who said 'Whilst many of the posts have reflected the polarity of the debate between advocates of biotechnology and those espousing caution, it is refreshing to see some meeting of minds. Dogmatism and polemic do little for the debate from either side but instead we should concentrate on the common ground.'...Moderator
[To contribute to this conference, send your message to biotech-room1@mailserv.fao.org For further information on the Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture see http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp ]