September 12, 2008

scientists respond to Scottish Government statement about unauthorized release of GM material

The statement was made in response to the unauthorised sowing of genetically modified oil seed rape seeds on three separate sites. The seeds were destroyed before reaching maturity.

Prof. Joyce Tait, Director of the ESRC Innogen Centre at University of Edinburgh, said:

“The Minister’s statement is entirely consistent with the policy position of the Scottish Government, and is understandable in the Scottish political context. However, from a scientific and risk analytical perspective it would be more accurate to say that ‘Had these plants been allowed to mature, there would have been very little risk to the environment’.

“This example illustrates the impacts of the European regulatory system for GM crops which is now more complex and demanding than that for any other technology, although there is no evidence of direct environmental or health risks from approved GM crops, and considerable evidence of their benefits.”

Prof Phil Mullineaux, Plant Biologist at University of Essex, said:

“The government minister says the risk to environment was very serious. On what possible scientific basis could this statement be made?”

Dr Huw Jones, Research Group Leader at Rothamsted Research Institute, said:

“This is clearly a breach of our stringent controls on GM crops and is regrettable, but just because these seeds were ‘unauthorised’ in the UK does not necessarily mean they are unsafe. If the GM herbicide tolerant seeds are a variety already approved for planting in North America, they pose no danger, however if they are an untested trial genotype, it could have been more serious. It is right that the trials are terminated and the seed stocks destroyed.”

Prof V. Moses, Division of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London, said:

“More than eight years ago, there was some sort of error in which thousands of hectares n the UK of were planted with oilseed rape containing 1% GM, with more in France and Sweden.

“Then, too, there were cries of panic along ‘end of the earth’ lines (like black holes and the LHC but much worse) but nothing whatsoever happened.

“The new episode is more politically-generated scaremongering of the very worst sort and should be castigated accordingly.”

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

“There is no risk to health or environment from these specific seeds and this is clear evidence of swift and robust procedures for dealing with such an incident. However, it must be stressed that such an incident makes it very hard for those of us reliant on stressing the importance of case by case assessment and faith in strict regulation to appease public concern relating to GM crops. As we strive to address the often conflicting issues of food production/security and environmental protection, we must aim to win back public confidence.”

Dr Les Firbank, Head of Soil at North Wyke Research Station, said:

“Farm Scale Evaluations of GM crops looked at herbicide tolerant oilseed rape and found that the risk to the environment came from the herbicides normally used on the crops, and not from the plants themselves.”