The Peril on your Plate

directed: Ekaterina Yakovleva RU 2018, 49m

Genetic engineering and chemical agriculture, what's in your food?

Over 190 million hectares in 28 countries around the globe are currently under cultivation using GMO crops and weed killing chemicals. GMO proponents see it as a high-tech solution to feed a growing population, others remain sceptical. Do GMOs yield gains? Are they safe for the environment? Do they trigger allergies and other diseases? In the quest for answers, RTD's Ekaterina Yakovleva embarks on a journey to meet the people who lift the lid on the perils of GMOs and the chemicals used in the industry.

The investigation takes her to India, where farmers have been driven to suicide in futile attempts to grow modified seeds and the pressure of huge loans from the agrochemical companies. Ekaterina meets renowned environmentalist Vandana Shiva, who is raising awareness and storing local crop varieties, discarded by the "green revolution".

In the UK, the fight against GMO means the commercial planting of genetically engineered crops is banned. However, campaigners fear GM experiments may threaten conventional crops. Glyphosate-based weed killers and other chemicals also cause concern among anti-GMO activists. The team meets Margaret, Countess of Mar, a member of the House of Lords and a former farmer, who suffered from chemical use. A robust movement against GMO flourishes in the US, the world's leader in the GM production. Ekaterina meets "Moms across America", who beat the drum for honest product labelling.

To explore the dangers of the GMO industry, watch RTD’s "The Peril on Your Plate".