May 4, 2001 -- "Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), like all the new technologies, are instruments that can be used for good and for bad in the same way that they can be either managed to the benefit of the most
needy or skewed to the advantage of specific groups," Dr. Jacques Diouf, director-general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizaton (FAO) said May 3, 2001.

"As scientific progress presents us with ever more powerful tools and seemingly boundless opportunities, we must exercise caution and ensure thorough ethical consideration of how these should be used.
The benefits deriving from GMOs, for example, should be shared more fairly with developing countries and with resource-poor farmers. Above all, ways must be found to guarantee that increased
production benefits accrue to the poor and food-insecure," said Dr. Diouf (see AgProfile.

The head of the UN specialized agency was commenting on two FAO publications - the first in a new series dedicated to ethics in food and agriculture - and on a report by an independent panel of eminent
experts on the major issues and challenges facing humanity today, including the need for an equitable, ethical food and agriculture system. For more information, see href="http://www.fao.org">FAO Web site.