July 20, 2006

scientists respond to DEFRA GM-coexistence consultation

Defra has proposed detailed measures to ensure that any growing of genetically modified crops in England will not disadvantage other farmers. Amongst the consultation proposals is the enforcement of strict separation distances between GM crops and their conventional counterparts.

Professor Philip Dale (OBE), Emeritus Fellow from the John Innes Centre, said:

“I welcome the consultation exercise on the co-existence of different forms of agriculture in the UK. Various groups have been debating this issue for 5 years or more so the principles are well understood. Co-existence means exactly what it says, that different forms of agriculture will need to find ways of existing together. This not only raises issues around food crops mixing with industrial GM crops but importantly also raises issues around high value industrial GM crops being devalued by mixing with food crops.”

Professor Joe Perry, Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research, said:

“I welcome the consultation process, which follows the sound evidence-based approach the Government has taken over the past nine years. We now have high quality data from research projects within Europe which will help to inform any decisions. If GM crops are assessed to be safe enough to grow in the UK, decisions on coexistence centre around commercial issues. Bioethically, I believe that neither conventional nor organic farmers have an exclusive right to ban or impose GM crops.”

Professor Guy Poppy, Head of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Southampton, said:

“It is important that farmer’s have a choice of options available to them. It is equally important that the public and other stakeholder’s can have their views heard and can also choose how they want the land farmed. This consultation will allow the complexity of the situation to be considered and importantly recognises that the situation is rarely black or white.”