Farming News

GMO Breeding 'Is Safer Than Conventional'

Plant breeding techniques using genetic modification offer huge potential environmental benefits and in some respects are safer than conventional methods, according to speakers at the Crop Protection in Northern Britain Conference in Dundee.

Georges MacKay of the Scottish Crop Research Institute called for a more rational approach to GM plant breeding. Its benefits could be enormous, he said, pointing out that potatoes were an increasingly important global food and the fourth most important crop in the world.

Dr MacKay said GM plant breeding was a natural evolution of conventional breeding which, by breeding varieties resistant to pests and discases, could allow potatoes to become a very important crop for less developed countries.

Research scientist Dr Phil Dale of the Norwich-based John Innes Centre said conventioanl techniques also had their risks.

"Because of the potential transfer of several thousands of genes from the donor species, there is the risk in conventional plant breeding of transferring toxic and potentially dangerous characters," he said.