GM potato trials given go-ahead
Potato blight can be a significant problem for farmers
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Friday, 01, Dec 2006 11:03
A plan to grow genetically modified (GM) disease-resistant potatoes in England has been given the go-ahead.
It is hoped that the plan could help to find a potato that is resistant to blight - which caused the devastating crop losses that resulted in the Irish potato famine and can be a significant disease problem for UK potato growers, who normally combat it by applying chemical fungicides.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has granted biotech company BASF permission to grow the potatoes at two sites in England, one in Cambridgeshire and one in Derbyshire, from Spring 2007.
Similar trials are already underway on the continent but the trials in England are necessary to test the effectiveness of the potato's resistance against UK strains of the disease.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) have criticised the decision due to concerns over the risk of contamination of the food chain and the lack of need or demand for the product.
FoE GM campaigner Clare Oxborrow said: "These GM trials pose a significant contamination threat to future potato crops. We don't need GM potatoes and there is no consumer demand for them.
"Even the county council and the food industry have raised concerns about the impact of thses trials. The government should promote safe and sustainable agriculture, not this half-baked GM potato plan."
Conservative shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth commented: "We are not opposed to the trials in principle. However, we expect the strictest of controls to be put in place. BASF must guarantee that no cross-contamination will take place between their GM trials and non-GM crops."
He added: "Given that the public shows no appetite at all for GM food, this trial seems somewhat academic."
Environment minister Ian Pearson has sought to downplay concerns, however, arguing that any risk to the public has been taken into account in Defra's decision.
He said: "Our top priority on this issue remains protecting consumers and the environment, and a rigorous independent assessment has concluded that these trials do not give rise to any safety concerns.
"Based on the independent advice we have received, appropriate conditions have been specified for the conduct of the trials, and our GM inspectorate will ensure that these are met. As the GM potatoes are being grown for research purposes they will not be used for food or animal feed."
And BASF corporate communications manager Chris Wilson said: "Nothing from these trials will be eaten. The potatoes grown will be tested under carefully controlled conditions and then destroyed.
"The possibility of a food crop from it is maybe ten years down the line."