| In a previous post Pundit discussed a journalistic | | | | evidence on this). |
| beat-up. Pundit didn't have time then to do justice to | | | | The "QPM" maize was developed with huge effort |
| the scale of the beat-up. Here is an attempt to | | | | by the Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat |
| correct that failing. | | | | Improvement Center (CIMMYT) to improve nutrition |
| The beat-up involves ABC journalist Anna Salleh | | | | in poorer maize eating communities world-wide. |
| re-broadcasting fears Associate Prof. Jack Heinemann | | | | CIMMYT got The World Food Prize for the effort |
| has been spreading about a new GM maize called | | | | (see below) and rightly so. QPM means quality protein. |
| LY038. | | | | Question 2. |
| Maize variety LYO38 which has high lysine levels, and | | | | Is it therefore not true Jack that the hazard |
| was developed for the animal feed market. It has | | | | speculation you are spreading about LY038 also |
| recently been evaluated by Australia's Gene | | | | applies to an existing high lysine maize eaten by poor |
| Technology Regulator OGTR. | | | | people world-wide? |
| Many readers will know lysine is an essential nutrient | | | | QPM maize has been widely used this last 6 years or |
| that is quite low in most other maize varieties, | | | | more, and Jack's fears imply it is harmful. |
| generally reducing the quality of maize as a source of | | | | Question 3. |
| protein and causing much malnutrition world wide. | | | | Are you saying, Jack that QPM is a misleading |
| Lysine is a component of proteins. | | | | acronym? |
| Jack says OGTR have got it wrong. | | | | Question 4. |
| Here are the questions Anna should have asked Jack. | | | | Since Jack, you also raising fears about QPM maize |
| Question 1. | | | | which provides better food and nutrition in poor |
| Isn't it true, Jack, that an existing maize variety called | | | | communities world-wide, shouldn't you put up or shut |
| QPM has similar levels of lysine to the new GM LY038 | | | | up? |
| maize you raise safety doubts about with your | | | | And a question for Anna: Aren't you morally bound to |
| assumption that high lysine levels in maize is | | | | run this corrective story at ABC news? |
| hazardous. (go to the the end of this post for the | | | | |