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Evaluating GM crops and foods in the UK

Explore the current UK stance on GM crops, the farm-scale evaluations, and indirect impacts on biodiversity. Learn how central decision-making influences regulations and public perception. Discover the implications for agricultural biodiversity and wildlife habitats. Stay informed on policy decisions and European consents.

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Evaluating GM crops and foods in the UK

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  1. Evaluating GM crops and foods in the UK Sue Mayer GeneWatch UK www.genewatch.org

  2. Outline • Current UK situation • How arrived at • The farm scale evaluations and indirect impacts • Implications of centralised decision making under Food and Feed Regs 1829/2003

  3. UK situation • No GM crops grown in UK • GM soya and maize imported for animal feed • Consultations on coexistence and liability (economic and environmental) rules about to start • Government commitment not to grow GM crops until rules in place

  4. How UK position arrived at • Considerable public opposition • Concerns from conservation groups about impacts of GMOs on biodiversity - farm-scale evaluations • GM debate: • GM science review - acknowledged uncertainties • costs and benefits evaluation - market dependent • public debate - skeptical about risk vs benefit

  5. GM farm scale evaluations • Investigate effects of indirect effects on biodiversity of growing GM herbicide tolerant crops • GM sugar beet (glyphosate tolerant); winter and spring oilseed rape (glufosinate tolerant) surprisingly clear adverse effects including on weed seed bank, some bees and butterflies in field margins • GM maize (glufosinate tolerant) compared to atrazine (now banned) had less adverse effects on biodiversity

  6. Implications for UK • Decline in farmland bird species associated with intensive agriculture • GM herbicide tolerant oilseed rape/sugar beet likely to increase pressure on bird and other species • UK will vote against proposals

  7. European consents • Food and Feed Regulations give Europe-wide consent • Concerns about agricultural biodiversity may not given weight by EFSA GMO panel (ecologists poorly represented; GMOs given benefit of the doubt) • Commission will rely on EFSA panel • Difficult to access documents • Regional issues likely to be marginalised

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