GM-Organic-Conventional debate rages in Australia

"Organic farmer Steve Marsh loses appeal for compensation from neighbour Michael Baxter whose GM crop blew into his field, contaminating his organic crop and causing him to lose his organic certification. This incident spurs on a national conversation around the benefits and harms of GM food.

Worldwide major controversy surrounds the labelling of GM foods. One source of outrage has been the entry of GM foods in the food chain without distinguishing labelling. People who oppose GM foods have also opposed their lack of choice in their consumption. Dedicated groups like ""Just Label It"" specifically petition the US government to make it a legal requirement to label GM foods.While most scientific analyses have rejected human health risks of GM food, there are potentital issues surrounding herbicides and pesticides. Furthermore skeptics of GM food generally cite the unknown long-term risk factors of consuming GM foods.

The GMO war can aso be likened to a proxy war in which values are tied up with the debate over health ""risk"". Food safety security risks may be used as a screen for other reservations over GM, whether they be related to intellectual property and perceived justice issues in respect to subsistence farming in the global South or the potential environmental damage caused by GM foods. The image of ""frankenfoods"", labelling of GM as scientically engineered and ""non-natural"" are used by activists to suggest health risks of GM food.

The acrimonious tone of the debate presents a significant challenge for GM producers in the coming years."