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GM potato trials given go-ahead GM potato trials given go-ahead
(10 minutes later)
A plan to grow genetically modified potatoes on two trial sites in England has been approved by the government.A plan to grow genetically modified potatoes on two trial sites in England has been approved by the government.
Defra granted permission for BASF Plant Sciences to grow crops in fields in Cambridgeshire and Derbyshire.Defra granted permission for BASF Plant Sciences to grow crops in fields in Cambridgeshire and Derbyshire.
The crops have been modified to include a gene from a wild species of potato in a bid to make them resistant to blight, a disease costing growers £70m a year.The crops have been modified to include a gene from a wild species of potato in a bid to make them resistant to blight, a disease costing growers £70m a year.
But the Soil Association said it was "a stupid decision" and warned other crops risked contamination by GM.But the Soil Association said it was "a stupid decision" and warned other crops risked contamination by GM.
Previous GM potato trials were carried out in the UK in 2003.Previous GM potato trials were carried out in the UK in 2003.
BASF aims to develop potatoes resistant to Phytophthora infestans, known as late blight.BASF aims to develop potatoes resistant to Phytophthora infestans, known as late blight.
It says it has found a trait in a wild potato from a remote valley in the Central American Andes that causes resistance to the fungal organism.It says it has found a trait in a wild potato from a remote valley in the Central American Andes that causes resistance to the fungal organism.
The biotechnology firm applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to hold trials at the headquarters of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) in Cambridge and on a Derbyshire farm.The biotechnology firm applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to hold trials at the headquarters of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) in Cambridge and on a Derbyshire farm.
The GM potato crops are to be planted next spring and trials will last several years. BASF said the trials would take up a maximum of one hectare within a plot of two hectares at each site per year.The GM potato crops are to be planted next spring and trials will last several years. BASF said the trials would take up a maximum of one hectare within a plot of two hectares at each site per year.
'Not eaten''Not eaten'
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.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 10 years down the line.""The possibility of a food crop from it is maybe 10 years down the line."
Similar scientific tests are already under way in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, but BASF want to be sure their GM potato variety is resistant to blight under UK growing conditions.Similar scientific tests are already under way in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, but BASF want to be sure their GM potato variety is resistant to blight under UK growing conditions.
Defra held a public consultation on the firm's application between September and October.Defra held a public consultation on the firm's application between September and October.
However, the Soil Association's policy director Lord Peter Melchett told BBC's Five Live: "Nobody thinks that GM potatoes will seriously be used by British consumers or bought by them."However, the Soil Association's policy director Lord Peter Melchett told BBC's Five Live: "Nobody thinks that GM potatoes will seriously be used by British consumers or bought by them."
He dismissed the idea scientists would be able to prevent contamination of other crops by GM.He dismissed the idea scientists would be able to prevent contamination of other crops by GM.
"Well there aren't any such guarantees," he said. "You can't do that."Well there aren't any such guarantees," he said. "You can't do that.
"American farmers have found this year that the whole of their long grain rice crop has been contaminated as the result of a trial which took place and finished over five years ago. ""American farmers have found this year that the whole of their long grain rice crop has been contaminated as the result of a trial which took place and finished over five years ago. "
Lord Melchett also said the idea it would deal with the problem of blight was "fantasy".Lord Melchett also said the idea it would deal with the problem of blight was "fantasy".
"Blight is a disease which evolves very quickly you knock it back one way it comes back another," he said."Blight is a disease which evolves very quickly you knock it back one way it comes back another," he said.
But Professor Philip Dale, an emeritus fellow at the plant-breeding John Innes Centre hit back at Lord Melchetts' comments.
"The Soil Association is opposing this because they have a substantial investment in the commercial future of organic agriculture and they see these kinds of advances in general agriculture to be a threat to the profitability of organic farming.
"The negative views on GM crops and foods expressed in the GM Nation public debate (as the report acknowledges) were largely influenced by campaigning groups who for their various reasons wish to stop the evaluation of GM crops. They even wish to deny farmers and consumers the choice to evaluate them."