The Scotsman

Scientists Call On Organic Farmers To Bury Biotech Hatchet

A leading Scottish scientist has called on organic farmers and biotechnologists to bury the hatchet and realise the mutual benefits of genetic modification.

But, says Professor Michael Wilson, who has just taken over as chief executive of Horticulture Research International, this will require more scientists to come out of their laboratories to explain to people what is going on.

Prof Wilson, who was deputy director of the Scottish Crop Research Institute until earlier this year, describes the aggression between the two sectors as "vastly overdone" and based on a lack of understanding. "GM could be a powerful weapon for the organic lobby with its potential to reduce considerably the amount of chemicals used, but it has chosen to regard this science as a genetic polluter. Many people have lost the point of the basics of the science," he said.

"Biotechnology, genetic fingerprinting and the development of gene technology has been going on for decades, particularly in the field of medical research for the good of mankind, and GM in crops is just one precise component of this technology. I think we should be able to work in concert."

"It should be borne in mind that an independent US survey, carried out by Cornell University, showed that the use of GM crops in Northern America cut farmers' bills for pest and disease control chemicals by $465 million. It also reduced tillage and other energy costs and encouraged more wildlife."

Prof Wilson is taking over the Warwickshire-based HRI just as it is increasing its expertise in both fields in the six units it runs from Yorkshire to Hampshire and its national and international business links through HortiTech, the commercial arm developed by his predecessor Professor Chris Payne, who has moved on the Reading University.

He was head-hunted by Prof Payne to take over the position of science director of HRI but a meeting proved impossible until they accidentally met on a beach in Mauritius where Prof Wilson and his wife Judith were taking a holiday to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

As if that was not coincidence enough, Prof Wilson went to the same school - Hawick High - as George Thorburn, who heads up the HortiTech division, and had several encounters with his now local MEP John Corrie sailing on St Mary's Loch in the Borders.

To cap that, he is now an honorary professor at Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China where the deputy director is one Chen Jian Ping, a former PhD student of his from SCRI days.

He has had a long and distinguished career in his 47 years, initially graduating in biochemistry from Edinburgh University in 1973; moving on to a PhD in the study of viruses at Cambridge which led to various posts in Britain and America before returning to Scotland and the SCRI in 1992. He was appointed deputy director there in 1995 and took over as acting director during Professor John Hillman's illness last year.

"HRI is about double the size of SCRI and the facilities and resources here are staggering. There has been a huge investment by the Ministry of Agriculture and others," Prof Wilson says.

Total funding of the unit is about GBP 24 million a year, with GBP 4 million of this coming from HortiTech projects - a new contract with the German hop group is due to be announced shortly. The industry-financed Horticultural Development Council provides a further GBP 2.5 to GBP 3 million a year with the balance being made up by private contracts.

As well as continuing to promote the academic work at the unit, Prof Wilson sees technology transfer to growers as his prime target.