European Commissioner John Dalli yesterday had his first taste of just how massive the responsibility which weighs on his shoulders is in the announcement of a decision to allow the cultivation of a genetically modified crop.

The crop in question, we have been told, is the Amflora potato which will be used to “save raw materials, energy, water and oil based chemicals while the starch will be used in the production of paper,” according to Mr Dalli. The potato will be grown in Eastern Germany, but will not be grown on an industrial level. Other crops which were given the green light include GM maize products which will be used for fodder purposes.

Environmental groups protested at the decision, which was the first in 12 years to allow a GM product to be grown in the European Union. Aside from the concerns of the environmentalists, in the sense that the EU is putting corporate interests before those of public health, there were a number of nations including Austria, Italy, Hungary, Greece and France.

A Green MEP accused Mr Dalli of showing “flagrant support for industry interests” and added that some 70 per cent of the European population were against GM foods.

This is no longer the parliament of Malta when one’s only concern is that comeback from one’s own party or a reaction from the opposition. Mr Dalli has moved into territory where he is dealing with hundreds of millions of people within the EU bloc. There are bound to be differences of opinion and with such a sensitive portfolio, this will not be the first time that decisions taken by Mr Dalli will raise the ire of not only the European parliament, but the people of Europe as a whole.

The issue of GM products is a sensitive one. Who can deny the obvious benefits of having drought and pest resistance crops that could give a whole new lease of life to places such as India and Africa where famine is rife. Who can argue with crops that give a much higher yield and do not require the use of pesticides. On paper, it all seems good. But what about the unknown factor? Before people start pressing panic buttons, we must stress that the only thing that is dangerous about GM products is that we do not know how they will affect the eco-system in 10-20 years time. We simply do not know. Many of the questions that are raised are: Will they destroy ‘natural’ crops’ ability to survive? Will they have a harmful effect on livestock? Will that effect be passed on to humans? Will they alter our climate? Can we actually harness them to alter our climate in the fight against climate change? Will they be as beneficial as we hope they can be in tackling hunger and drought?

The questions go on and on. Some of those which we asked are ones which show the fear of GM products and others show the hope we have that they will allow humanity to continue to thrive.

What Mr Dalli must do is leave himself as open as he possibly can do, to listen to the concerns of all, and, most importantly of all, to listen to the scientists and to pass on their findings to everyone else. Europe wants to be closer to its people and to do that, it must explain its actions to its citizens.