German Ag official says more education needed on GMOs

The German Minister of Food and Agriculture says more needs to be done to educate Europeans about the positive aspects of genetically modified food. Speaking through an interpreter, Karl-Heinz Funke, said there is still a lot of uncertainty about genetically modified food in Europe.Funke gave the luncheon address at the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines. Funke says it’s up to the media, businesses and governments to spread the message about the benefits of genetically modified food.He says genetically modified food can help feed a growing world population while also helping to combat disease. Funke says Europeans are open to new technologies.as people have accepted the use of genetics in medical technology, and he believes the use of biotechnology in food production hasn’t been adequately explained. Funke denies the European Union is using the fear of genetically modified foods as a sort of trade barrier to U-S products.Funke says consumers need to have reliable information about food products to be able to make an educated choice. He says food labeling will help.The World Food Prize Symposium on genetically modified food wraps up today.