Eastern Daily Press

Big Debate Planned On Future For GM Crops

An important farming conference in East Anglia, the main testing ground in the country, for genetically modified crops, is set to fuel the debate about the benefits and risks of bio-engineered plants.

The East Anglia region of Farming and Wildlife Advisory Groups has organised a Conference to inform farmers about the benefits and risks of genetically modified crops, so that farmers can make their own decisions as to the practical difficulties, the environmental impacts and the regulations of the new technology.

Every year farmers aim to increase crop yields to maximise their profit. Until comparatively recently scientists have continuously improved crops by the process of selecting the best individual plants and then applying the principles of plant breeding.

This process is a lengthy one and will undoubtedly continue into the future, but new advances in technology have uncovered methods of speeding up this selection process. This is known as genetic modification and offers new possibilities for breeding fitter, more efficient crops combining high-quality yields with decreased inputs which could contribute more to sustainable agriculture.

Plant breeders can now select the precise gene for the selected trait that they wish to incorporate into a new variety. Examples of what could be considered desirable genes may have the following resistances: drought or frost, insect and disease pests together with herbicide resistance.

In theory this could be excellent for the environment it could significantly increase the range of crops grown in East Anglia. Genetic modification could reduce the requirements for water and the impacts of irrigation on our wetland sites, reduce the applications of insecticides and frequently of herbicide applications.

However, there is much debate as to the potential environmental impact of GMOs on wildlife and its habitat as well as the risks to human health with public opinion divided.

In Britain, the Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment (ARCE) regulates the growing of GM crops and is responsible to the Environment Secretary.

Crops are assessed on "biosafety" grounds, taking into account the gene donor organism and the effects on the modified organism.

It was announced in October 1998 that there is to be a delay in commercial planting of herbicide resistant crops for 12 months and that insect resistant GM crops which include potatoes, sugar and fodder beet, oilseed rape and maize will be stopped for three years for more research.

The delay in the release of insect resistant crops is largely due to the environmental concerns. Oilseed rape modified to produce natural insecticide has been shown to kill not only the target pests - caterpillars and beetles - but also bees.

Studies published in August 1997 revealed that bees exposed to the genetically modified crop were dying two weeks earlier than usual. Another natural pesticide is the protein lectin which interferes with insect digestion.

When potatoes were engineered with the lectin gene, the problem of aphid pests was significantly reduced. However, beneficial ladybirds eating aphids from the modified plants were found to suffer from shortened lifespans and reduced fertility.

The conference speakers include the following: Monsanto's technical manager for biotechnology, Colin Merrick and Prof Jonathon Jones of the Sainsbury laboratory at the John Innes Centre, who will put the case for GMO's.

Dr Michael Antoniou, a senior lecturer in molecular pathology at one of London's teaching hospitals will be expanding on the differences between traditional breeding and genetic engineering.

Patrick Holden will present the Soil Association's views and there will be speakers from Friends of the Earth, the RSPB, and English Nature's specialist on GMOs, Dr Brian Johnson.

The former minister responsible for setting up the regulatory body ACRE, Suffolk Coastal MP John Gummer will also be speaking.

For details on this conference at Chilford Hall, Linton, Cambridge on Wednesday, February 10. Tickets £20 plus Vat for FWAG Members £30 plus Vat for non-members contact: Brenda Rafe, FWAG 100 Southgate Street, Bury St Edmunds (01284) 723042.