VILNIUS - The Lithuanian ministry of the decided on Tuesday that it will not issue the permit to cultivate genetically modified summer rape for test purposes.
The decision comes amid a visit by European Union Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Marianna Fischer Boel, who prompted Lithuanians not to fear genetically modified foodstuffs. Last October, German company BASF Plant Science GmbH applied for a permit to grow genetically modified summer rape on the test fields of the Agriculture Institute in the district of Klaipeda for test purposes. Their application has been denied by the Lithuanian ministry of agriculture.
Rape, also known as canola, is a plant in the mustard family that is used primarily for animal feed but is also highly prized for its oil.
In considering this application, the Environment Ministry deliberated the recommendation from the Genetically Modified Organism Control Committee and took into account of the opinion of the Health Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry, which disapproved of issuing a permit for cultivating genetically modified rape on test fields for test purposes.
This was not the first application to permit growing genetically modified plants in Lithuania for science purposes. Last year, a similar request to permit cultivation of genetically modified potatoes on the test field of the Agriculture Institute was likewise denied.
There has recently been much discussion on the topic of genetically modified food in Lithuania. In her visit to the country, Commissioner Boel urged Lithuanians not to fear genetically modified food.
Commissioner Boel said that genetically modified plants that do not cause harm to the environment and health could be cultivated in the European Union, yet she voiced a belief that it was imperative to avoid mixing of genetically modified and regular or organic plants, and therefore recommended for the member states to adopt the legislation to prevent possible mixture of different crops.
During her visit, Commissioner Boel will accept an honorary doctorate from the Lithuanian Agricultural University.
Despite these calls by the EU, the general Lithuanian population remains sceptical of genetically modified food. A recent poll covering a thousand people aged above 18 revealed that more than one-half (58.9 percent) of Lithuania's people criticize genetically modified organisms, and more than two-thirds (69 percent) say they do not consume foodstuffs that are genetically modified.
Most (63 percent) of the respondents disapprove of growing of genetically modified plants in Lithuania, and 57.8 percent believe such plants ought to be banned. Only 17.2 percent said that cultivation of such plants is good.
When asked about the purpose of genetically modified organisms, 27.4 percent of the people polled said they helped producing more food and fight starvation. In the opinion of 18.9 percent of the respondents, such organisms are necessary for scientific advancement. A lesser percentage of the respondents say these organisms have to do with industrial development. Nearly 2 percent of the people believe the main reason behind the GMO use is capitalization.
