PESTICIDE USE ON GM CROPS
Steve Connor in the Independent details results from a study at Cornell University, New York, which undermines one of the major arguments in favour of growing GM crops. The study reveals that GM farmers in China are using the same amount of pesticide as non-GM farmers. The study found that, although farmers growing Bt cotton in China did use fewer pesticides in the first few years of adopting GM plants, after seven years they had to use just as much pesticide as they did with conventional crops.

ORGANIC GM CROPS?
The Scotsman has published Anna Ashmole's response to an article by Fordyce Maxwell, which claimed that the time for GM crops may have come and that there was no reason why GM crops could not be grown organically. The edited letter reads:

"Fordyce Maxwell (24 July) claims that "there is no reason why GM crops cannot be organically grown". It is a statement he has made often, and loudly, but it is fundamentally wrong.

One of the core principles of organic farming is to work with natural biological processes. Genetic engineering is not natural, and its use is specifically prohibited by EU regulations on organic farming and all other international organic standards.

Fordyce obviously hasn't noticed, but the organic market is booming – a staggering 30% iincrease in UK sales last year – and avoiding GM is one of the many reasons why more and more people are buying organic, both from supermarkets and direct from farmers." (The Scotsman, Letters, 26 July)

GM DEBATE
Professor Moses, the Chairman of CropGen, writes in a letter to The Guardian that "approved GM crops would not be bad for biodiversity nor pose any threat to human health". Tony Combes from the Agricultural Biotechnology Council writes that he wishes to see a broad debate on co-existence of GM and non-GM crops so not just those in the organic lobby are heard but also "those farmers who wish to benefit from this technology are given the choice to do so".

SOIL SISTER
The Herald features a picture story on Donna Air as 'the new face of organic food'. The caption mentions that she will be heading up publicity for the Soil Association's celebration of pesticide-free food, and that her appointment follows soaring sales of organic food which rose by 30% last year. (The Herald, 26 July).