The May 2014 court decision in Western Australia ruling against a GM farming contamination claim is yet another chapter in the colourful and controversial history of GM crops.I’ll be surprised if there’s not an appeal as the anti-GM lobby has deep pockets resulting from a world-wide appeal for funds. Here’s an opinion from the law firm Mallesons on the judgement.The debate will go on. Hopefully this can be based on good science and not the ideologically driven scare-mongering so common in much of the anti-GM literature.Dr. Paul Willis is a regular on the ABC’s Catalyst programme and is an advocate of the importance of science in everyday life and his take on how much of the anti-GM stance is based on science is, in essence, not a lot. Naturally enough the main concern about GM material is its impact on human health – is it safe to eat?It’s estimated that over one trillion meals made all or partially from GM food have been safely eaten in Australia and around the world.In 2012 more than 17 million farmers in 28 countries planted GM crops. GM crops now cover 170 million hectares, including 700,000 hectares in Australia.GM crops were directly responsible for reducing carbon emission in 2011 by 23 billion kilograms, the equivalent of removing more than 10 million cars from the road.The introduction of GM cotton in China lifted yields by just 6% and reduced the use of insecticides by around 80%.The questions around GM which should be debated are labeling and the ownership of genetic material. I have been reporting and producing stories on the GM issue since it first emerged in the early 1990’s. Image: Shutterstock