Alba, transgenic glowing bunny with jelly fish genes: Died age 4 instead of 12.Although GM crops are proliferating at the rate of multiplying bunnies, there are still no scientific studies on the impact on human health over the long term, whilst adverse health effects have been documented in studies on rats, for example.

"We are confronted with the most powerful technology the world has ever known, and it is being rapidly deployed with almost no thought whatsoever to its consequences", says Dr Suzanne Wuerthele, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) toxicologist.

91% of Soya grown in the United States is genetically modified [USDA NASS Press Release, Jun 2007]. If you read the labels you'll find soya lecithin listed as an ingredient in a lot of processed foods (and you thought chocolate is only made from cacao and cows milk, right?). In South Africa the Free State University's GMO Testing Facility found Genetically Modified Organisms in 90% of the soya products that it tested. This even included most soya milk labelled "GMO-Free"!

Which brings me to what I actually wanted to say. Professor Chris Viljoen, who heads up the GMO Testing Facility of the University of the Free State, will be speaking at SAFEaGE's Fundraiser next Wednesday at 6pm. He is an independant (not GM industry funded) authority on genetic engineering currently serving on three important committees:
- Liaison Group on Capacity-Building for Biosafety for the Convention on Biological Diversity (United Nations Environmental Program)
- SABS committee for the identity preservation of non-genetically modified food
- Advisory Sub-Committee for the GMO Act 1997

So if you want to know more about genetic engineering this is an opportunity not to be missed. Prof. Viljoen apparently speaks not only Scientese, but plain English too!

Tickets are R75 each and the seating is limited, so RSVP early. More details here.