Genetically modified (GM) crops are one of the great unknowns of our times. Opinion about them is deeply divided and suspicion is rife.

On the one hand it would be nice to think that by a bit of harmless genetic tinkering crops can be made more productive, helping to feed the world. There is little doubt about part of that scenario. GM crops are indeed much more productive. The big question mark hangs over their harmless nature.

The reality is that we simply don't know what the long-term effects might be. There are conflicting messages from people who reckon to be experts.

In the circumstances, the Council is right to reinforce its commitment to a GM-free policy on all its goods and services and, additionally, to ban GM crops from being grown on land it owns - a measure which received cross-party support from councillors in a free vote.

A former regional representative of the National Farmers' Union has told the T&A that he considers it to be a matter for the Government and the EU. He says that councils should stop interfering. But local authorities are much closer to the hearts of the people, surely, and have a responsibility to protect their citizens.

If they consider that many of those citizens would be unhappy about something, it is their duty to try to prevent it happening.

Now the Council has taken a stand on this matter perhaps it would care to look at another cause for public concern, the proliferation of chemicals which are sprayed on crops, and try to encourage those who farm on land it owns to follow a more organic path.