GM Crops can and should Co-Exist in the UK:  It’s time to give UK consumers and farmers the right to choose

Novembr 25th 2003. abc today welcomed the central conclusion of the long awaited AEBC report into co-existence of GM and non-GM crops that states:

“The main aim of Government policy on co-existence of GM and other crops must be to facilitate consumer choice to the greatest possible extent, while allowing UK farmers to respond to present and future national and international market demand.”

The report goes on to state that if sensible guidelines are followed, there are no reasons whatsoever why GM, non-GM and organic crops should not be able to co-exist to the mutual benefit of the economy, the environment and consumer choice and that no one form of agriculture should have the power of veto over another.

abc also wish to draw attention to a number of key points within the report that help put this debate into its true context:

1.                Co-existence is not new, nor specific to GM crops.  Many forms of farming currently co-exist, such as industrial and food uses of crops, seed production, organic and conventional farming.  These current forms of farming have the potential to impact on consumer choice, have an economic effect on other farmers and unlike GM, can even have an effect on food safety.  However, sensible pragmatic arrangements have allowed all of these to live together to the mutual benefit of all for many years.

2.                abc welcome the fact that the report stresses sensible guidelines and codes of practice should form the basis of any co-existence arrangements.  Indeed, industry has long held the same view and has been completely vindicated in this view during the Farm Scale Evaluations.  During this four-year period, pressure groups claimed that 277 farms would be at risk of losing organic status. By following SCIMAC guidelines, farmers ensured that no organic status was lost and no non-GM farmer had any issues with selling his produce.  It is worthy of note that this has been the case the case since 1989, when the first GM crops trials were grown in the UK.

3.                abc welcomes the report’s conclusion that there must be a mutual responsibility for co-existence. In any business (farming or otherwise), the person deciding to supply a product to a certain standard is responsible for achieving that standard. By taking appropriate responsibility, he is rewarded for such delivery by payment, including any premium that the contract implies.  GM and non-GM farming is, as the report states, no different in this respect.

4.                abc welcomes the conclusion that statutory limits on GM crops would be contrary to EU law and against the spirit of equity.  Clearly it is not in the best interests of the UK to deny the vast majority of UK farmers (99.7%), who could enjoy the benefits of this technology, their ability to choose a system that can improve their livelihoods and the environment in which they live and work.

Commenting on the publication of the report Dr Paul Rylott, Chairman of abc said: 

“This report clearly states that GM and non-GM crops can and should co-exist within the UK.  Over the summer it has been proven by the various studies commissioned by the Government that GM crops offer farmers cost and convenience.  They are also at least as safe to human health as non-GM crops.  The Farm Scale Evaluations showed that they have the flexibility to allow growers to improve the environment compared to some current forms of agriculture.”

“The Government now has all of the necessary information to make a sensible and definitive statement about the future of GM crops within the UK.  It is time to move forward in a sensible, responsible manner that will give back UK growers and consumers the right to choose, whilst allowing the economy and the environment the opportunity to benefit from this exciting technology.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Agricultural Biotechnology Council (abc) was set up in 2002 to provide a forum for the debate and education surrounding GM technology in the United Kingdom.

The members of abc are BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Monsanto and Syngenta. These companies are working together to promote a fair debate surrounding the production of GM crops and also to provide education about GM in the UK.

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