What are GM crop trials?
Genetically modified crops are plants in which genes are altered in the laboratory to make them perform in a very specific way, such as not being harmed by certain herbicides.
In October 1998, the government and representatives of the agricultural biotechnology industry agreed to conduct a series of closely-monitored Farm Scale Evaluations of the impact on biodiversity of herbicide-resistant genetically modified crops.
Although the existing EU regulatory regime had largely satisfied UK scientific authorities about the safety of the crops themselves, there remained extensive concerns about the impact of crop management practices on a large scale. In 1998, three types of GM crop were on the brink of receiving EU approval, and, along with lingering scientific concerns, public opinion remained hostile to GM crop cultivation.
EU law forbade a compulsory moratorium on GM crop planting, so the government negotiated an agreement with the industry umbrella group SCIMAC (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops) to hold back from commercial cultivation until the Field Scale Evaluations were complete. The majority of the Field Scale Evaluations were completed by the end of 2003.
In May 2008 consent was given to the University of Leeds to carry out trials over a three year period on potato crops genetically modified for resistance to potato cyst nematodes and in March 2010 this consent was extended for a further three years.
Approval was also given by the new coalition government in May 2010 for the Sainsbury Laboratory to conduct a smaller trial over a three year period on potatoes genetically modified to resist late potato blight.
More recently permission was granted in September 2011 for Rothamsted Research to carry out a trial of GM wheat resistant to aphids.
Background
Before the introduction of the Field Scale Evaluation programme, there were four tests that any plant needed to pass before it could be cultivated.
1. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) must be satisfied by the plant's impact on human health, animal health and the environment.
2. The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) must assess the plant for human and animal feedstuff safety.
3. Herbicide-resistant plants require the companion herbicide to be approved by the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD).
4. GM plants are subject to the same seeds regulations as conventional plants, and require approval for the distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) of each new variety, as well as value for cultivation and use (VCU).
These tests remain in place today. In 1998, when the Field Scale Evaluation programme was introduced, maize, oilseed rape (winter and spring varieties) and beet (fodder and sugar varieties), were close to meeting all of these tests.
In the first year, 1999, a small number of fields of each crop were sown to test the evaluation protocols. The main project started in spring 2000 and was due to end in autumn 2002 for the spring crops and summer 2003 for the autumn sown rape.
The GM crops evaluated in the Field Scale Evaluations were modified to be resistant to broad-spectrum herbicides such as glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium. These chemicals normally kill crops as well as weed, so resistant crops would permit farmers to ignore weeds growing among their crops early in the season, as they can use an effective herbicide later in the year.
Around 60 fields were sown with each type of crop over the four year Field Scale Evaluation programme.
The results of all the Field Scale Evaluations, except for those involving winter oilseed rape, were published in October 2003. On publication, the results were passed to ACRE for consideration.
In March 2004, environment secretary Margaret Beckett announced that the government would permit the commercial cultivation of the GM maize tested in the FSE trials, on certain conditions relating to further testing after 2006. However, Bayer CropScience subsequently announced that they would not market this particular variety of GM maize.
The government also stated that it would oppose commercial approval for the GM beet and oilseed rape tested in the trials because scientific evidence suggested that the herbicide use associated with these crops – although not the GM plants themselves – could have an adverse effect on the environment.
Consent for the current GM trials being undertaken by Leeds University, the Sainsbury Laboratory and Rothamsted Research was granted in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 following evaluation by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE).
All the trials are subject to certain restrictions, including the number of genetically modified organisms to be planted in any one year and specific release periods for the GMOs.
Controversies
The Field Scale Evaluations of GM crops was one of the most controversial ecological research programmes ever undertaken, principally because the Government had indicated that their outcomes would have a major influence on whether GM crops were cultivated in the UK.
The public are seen as broadly opposed to the cultivation of GM crops, as more than half of Britons who took part in a nationwide debate said they should never be introduced under any circumstances. The Field Scale Evaluations were perceived by some, not as a scientific means of determining finally whether GM crops are safe, but as a way of the government delaying a decision.
The first wave of Field Scale Evaluations saw farms attacked by anti-GM protestors – most notably in July 1999, when 30 Greenpeace activists, led by Lord Peter Melchett, destroyed crops at a farm in Lyng, Norfolk. This led to higher levels of security around the evaluation sites.
Notwithstanding public concern about GM crops, heightened by media warnings about 'Frankenstein foods', opponents of GM crops say there remain numerous questions about the environmental impact of the crops not explicitly addressed by the Field Scale Evaluations, particularly cross-pollination and separation distances between GM and conventional stands and the longer term effects of GM releases.
Environmental groups such as the Soil Association claim that GM technologies have consistently underperformed and insist that agro-ecological farming, not GM, is the key to feeding future generations sustainably.
The decision by Defra to issue consent in September 2011 for Rothamsted Research to carry out a trial of GM wheat resistant to aphids led to further clashes between pro and anti GM campaigners in early 2012.
An anti-GM group, 'Take the Flour Back', describing itself as "a grassroots network of individuals", said it was extremely concerned about both the risk of cross-contamination of wild and domestic plants and the unknown health and environmental impacts.
The group organised a "mass action" by campaigners to march on the trial site in Harpenden, Herts., on 27th May with the intention of destroying the GM wheat crops. Over 400 growers, bakers and families from across England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Belgium were reported to have marched against the return of open air GM field testing.
The proposed destruction of the site was roundly condemned by the British Crop Production Council (BCPC) which refuted many of the arguments put forward by 'Take the Flour Back.' BCPC rejected claims that contamination of neighbouring wheat crops would occur, saying that "numerous measures", approved by ACRE, had been taken to prevent the escape of genetic material. The Council also emphasised that the insect repellent substance in the GM wheat was "toxicologically innocuous, being present in over 400 species of plants, many of which are consumed daily as food or drink."
Rothamsted researchers wrote an open letter to 'Take The Flour Back' imploring them not to destroy the crops, saying: "We can only appeal to your consciences, and ask you to reconsider before it is too late, and before years of work to which we have devoted our lives are destroyed forever."
In addition, the charitable trust 'Sense About Science' organised a "don't destroy the research" petition in support of the scientists which attracted in excess of 6000 signatures from a wide variety of people, including celebrities Stephen Fry and Tim Minchin.
In the event the protestors were stopped by police before the crops could be destroyed.
Statistics
Consents for the release of genetically modified organisms granted by the secretary of state:
9th May 2008
University of Leeds.
Release conducted at Headley Hall Farm, near Tadcaster.
Dates of the release period: between 1 May and 30 November in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
In each year of the release, the trial site shall not exceed 1000m2 (0.1 hectare).
In each year, the total number of GMOs planted at the trial site shall not exceed 4,000.
No more than 12,000 GMOs shall be planted at the trial site during the release period specified.
27th March 2010
University of Leeds
Release conducted at Headley Hall Farm, near Tadcaster.
Dates of the release period: between 1 May and 30 November in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
In each year of the release, the trial site must not exceed 0.1 hectare.
In each year, the total number of GMOs planted at the trial site must not exceed 4,000.
No more than 12,000 GMOs must be planted at the trial site during the release period specified.
18th May 2010
Sainsbury Laboratory
Release conducted at the John Innes Centre, near Norwich.
Dates of the release period: between 1 May and 30 November in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
In each year of the release, the trial site shall not exceed 300 square metres.
In each year, the total number of GMOs planted at the trial site shall not exceed 400.
No more than 1,200 GMOs shall be planted at the trial site during the release period specified.
15th September 2011
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts.
The genetically modified organism (GMO) is wheat Triticum aestivum, which has been transformed with one or both of the following synthetic genes: (E)-β-farnesene synthase and farnesyl diphosphate synthase. In addition both constructs contain the constitutive Ubi promoter and nos T terminator, the bar gene conferring herbicide tolerance and may contain further sequences of bacterial origin including the neomycin phosphotransferase (nptI) selectable marker gene.
Purpose of the release:
To test field performance of the novel wheat plants resistance to aphids.
Release conducted at the Rothamsted Research farm, Harpenden at map grid reference TL 1213.
Dates of the release period: between 1 March 2012 and 30 September 2013
The trial site must not exceed 12,800 square metres
The trial site shall comprise two plots, each not exceeding 6,400 square metres, located at least 20 metres apart.
Planting density at the trial site must not exceed 350 seeds per square metre
Source: Defra
Quotes
“Here at the beginning of a new resistance to this obsolete technology, we see GM hidden behind a fortress.
"We wanted to do the responsible thing and remove the threat of GM contamination; sadly it wasn’t possible to do that effectively today. However, we stand arm in arm with farmers and growers from around the world, who are prepared to risk their freedom to stop the imposition of GM crops.”
Kate Bell from 'Take the Flour Back' – May 2012
"BCPC considers that the illegal actions of the type proposed by the “Take the Flour Back” group are an unjustified attack on an experiment which has been carefully researched and controlled.
“It is also a general attack on scientific advances aiming to meet one of the world’s biggest challenges – providing safe and nutritious food for a growing global population, whilst reducing the environmental impact of production.”
Dr. Colin Ruscoe, BCPC chairman – May 2012
