Homi Bhabua asking whether the call to "respect" differences, of culture, race or sexuality, signifies progress or the end of creative argument.

Wrong, Scary, or the Greatest Thing?

Andrew Dilnot

Genetically modified food seems to have aroused stronger passions than any issue since the nuclear debate. Why do so many people believe that innocent-looking plants should be removed from British fields?

Andrew Dilnot, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, asks whether GM food is safe and whether it's really different from anything we've done before.

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Simply subscribing to a "nature is nice" line doesn't get us off the hook of tryng to engage with the detail and the principles

Andrew Dilnot

The programme will examine whether science can answer questions about risk, and whether other factors - a desire to return to the "natural", and dislike of global companies - are driving some of the opposition to GM crops

Contributors will include Lord Melchett, executive director of Greenpeace UK; the Government's chief scientist, Sir Robert May; Professor Jim Dunwell, a leading researcher into GM plants; and Professor Nancy Cartwright, a philosopher of science from the LSE.

Producer: Nicola Meyrick

Look in the archive for past programmes going back to October 1999.

Analysis is...the most incisive and challenging current affairs strand on radio or tv (Daily Mail)...Radio 4's most distinguished, thoughtful, far sighted and influential current affairs programme (Telegraph)... ever excellent (Financial Times)...