Anti-GMF movement 'dysfunctional'

TORONTO — Calling the movement to restrict genetically modified food (GMF) crops part of a "dysfunctional" environmental policy, a former Greenpeace director opened a biotechnology industry convention here on Sunday with a bristling critique of the organization he helped build.

Patrick Moore, who now promotes the biotechnology and forestry industries and advocates consensus building in environmental planning, kicked off the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 2002 Annual Convention, which runs June 9–12. The convention brings together scientists, biotechnology officials, financiers and lawyers, and offers business-development workshops. Moore, suggesting that Greenpeace be tried for crimes against humanity for opposing the introduction of Golden Rice into the Third World, said the organization had adopted "a position of zero-tolerance." Today's environmental movement, Moore said, is anti-human, anti-technology, and anti-business. "[The organization] would rip those [Golden Rice] crops from the ground," he said. "If Greenpeace and other groups could agree that one single good GM...