I’m fed up with talking about the weather, but I can console myself with the fact we have grabbed every opportunity so far and progress is not too bad.Defra considers GM potato trial
THE Government is considering an application from British scientists to plant GM potatoes in a field trial in Norwich.
Scientists in the Sainsbury’s Laboratory at the John Innes Centre hope to get approval from Defra in order to start their three-year trial in May.
The researchers aim to genetically modify a potato resistant to blight – a disease estimated to cost the global potato industry £3.5 billion every year.
Blight resistance would also save farmers from spraying fungicide on the potatoes, the scientists said.
Defra will approve the trial, or otherwise, based on an assessment from the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) which provides expert scientific advice to the Department.
A Defra spokesman said: “Defra will only issue a statutory consent for the trial if the evidence is clear that human health and the environment will not be compromised. A decision on the application from the Sainsbury Laboratory will be made in due course.”
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Readers' comments (2)
Anonymous | 19 February 2010 6:37 pm
I'm fed up with spraying once a week,lets get on with this trial...by the way, its A.P.B.....Accelerated Plant Breeding...and NO! it's not going to create a dinosoar potato that takes over the earth my lord M.!
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Peter Sargent | 23 February 2010 10:49 am
What a great use of GM if it can remove the massive environmental impact of fungicides to control potato blight - surely a good news story, well done Sainsburys and come on Defra
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