Environmental lobby group GeneWatch UK has warned that genetically modified trees, grasses and non-food crops could contaminate food crops and wild species of plants and trees.
GeneWatch UK said the biotechnology industry was focusing on non-food crops, such as trees, flowers, grasses, cotton and crops used to make biofuels, because of consumer concerns about GM foods, reported Reuters.
“The use of GM for non-food crops could bring contamination of food and nature by the back door,” said Dr. Sue Mayer, GeneWatch’s director and author of the report.
“Industry and government hope to get around public concerns by using GM technology on non-food crops…Although people aren’t going to eat them, the GM contamination threat to other plants remains,” Mayer was quoted by Reuters as saying.
