Bayer CropScience going blue in the face over GM crops
crop geek | 16.03.2004 12:45 | Bio-technology
Paul Rylott's replacement as head of Bayer BioScience and acting chair of the ABC lobby group says of GM crop commercialisation "I've stopped holding my breath because I keep going blue"
Article taken from Farmers Weekly
http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=14084&sec=18&hier=2
No GM maize before 2006 Source: FWi 11 March 2004
By Tom Allen-Stevens
FARMERS HAVE been told there are many hurdles to be overcome before
genetically-modified crops can be grown in the UK.
Rural Affairs secretary Margaret Beckett's decision to approve GM maize puts
the UK on the same basis as Spain and Germany, said the Agricultural
Biotechnology Council.
But a refusal to allow National Listing for the variety Chardon LL, until
various conditions are met will compound delays to commercial plantings.
"The fact that the government is prepared to allow GM crops is a big,
symbolic step forward," said ABC acting chairman and Bayer CropScience GM
spokesman Julian Little.
"But I'd be very ambitious if I thought there would be any commercial
plantings in 2005."
The National Listing delay is the latest in a catalogue of hold-ups for the
variety, said Dr Little.
"I've stopped holding my breath because I keep going blue."
Mrs Beckett has spelled out a number of issues that must be resolved before
she gives her go-ahead for National Listing.
These include statutory guidelines governing how GM crops are grown and
protection for non-GM farmers affected by GM crops.
Seeking approval for Liberty (glufosinate) - the herbicide the variety is
tolerant to - cannot begin until she does, explained Dr Little.
"We know from past experience with the Advisory Committee on Pesticides that
getting approval is more than just a rubber-stamping job."
Issues of co-existence and compensation are small barriers, by comparison,
said Dr Little.
"We're looking forward to moving the debate on and entering into a dialogue
on these issues."
But compensation especially will be far from straight-forward, according to
Monsanto biotech development manager Colin Merritt.
"If a claim was triggered because we gave bad advice, or because a farmer
had not followed guidelines, then liability would be fairly clear-cut.
"But I can see problems if claims are made but everyone is doing as they
should - we're not going to pay up willy-nilly."
Zero or near-zero thresholds demanded by the organic sector are
unreasonable, he said.
"No one should be held liable for maintaining someone else's self-imposed
marketing position," said Dr Merritt.
But he said Monsanto was still keen to push forward with its GM sugar beet,
despite the current lack of government support.
"What the headlines skirted over was that the GM crops in the farm-scale
trials used 46% less herbicide, but still achieved better weed control.
"We need a deep and wide discussion about how many weeds we want to leave
behind."
The company has plenty of data Dr Merritt believes proves the environmental
worth of the transgenic crop.
"But if we are going to be asked to do another 10 years of FSE trials, it
wouldn't be worth it."
http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=14084&sec=18&hier=2 No GM maize before 2006 Source: FWi 11 March 2004
By Tom Allen-Stevens
FARMERS HAVE been told there are many hurdles to be overcome before
genetically-modified crops can be grown in the UK.
Rural Affairs secretary Margaret Beckett's decision to approve GM maize puts
the UK on the same basis as Spain and Germany, said the Agricultural
Biotechnology Council.
But a refusal to allow National Listing for the variety Chardon LL, until
various conditions are met will compound delays to commercial plantings.
"The fact that the government is prepared to allow GM crops is a big,
symbolic step forward," said ABC acting chairman and Bayer CropScience GM
spokesman Julian Little.
"But I'd be very ambitious if I thought there would be any commercial
plantings in 2005."
The National Listing delay is the latest in a catalogue of hold-ups for the
variety, said Dr Little.
"I've stopped holding my breath because I keep going blue."
Mrs Beckett has spelled out a number of issues that must be resolved before
she gives her go-ahead for National Listing.
These include statutory guidelines governing how GM crops are grown and
protection for non-GM farmers affected by GM crops.
Seeking approval for Liberty (glufosinate) - the herbicide the variety is
tolerant to - cannot begin until she does, explained Dr Little.
"We know from past experience with the Advisory Committee on Pesticides that
getting approval is more than just a rubber-stamping job."
Issues of co-existence and compensation are small barriers, by comparison,
said Dr Little.
"We're looking forward to moving the debate on and entering into a dialogue
on these issues."
But compensation especially will be far from straight-forward, according to
Monsanto biotech development manager Colin Merritt.
"If a claim was triggered because we gave bad advice, or because a farmer
had not followed guidelines, then liability would be fairly clear-cut.
"But I can see problems if claims are made but everyone is doing as they
should - we're not going to pay up willy-nilly."
Zero or near-zero thresholds demanded by the organic sector are
unreasonable, he said.
"No one should be held liable for maintaining someone else's self-imposed
marketing position," said Dr Merritt.
But he said Monsanto was still keen to push forward with its GM sugar beet,
despite the current lack of government support.
"What the headlines skirted over was that the GM crops in the farm-scale
trials used 46% less herbicide, but still achieved better weed control.
"We need a deep and wide discussion about how many weeds we want to leave
behind."
The company has plenty of data Dr Merritt believes proves the environmental
worth of the transgenic crop.
"But if we are going to be asked to do another 10 years of FSE trials, it
wouldn't be worth it."
crop geek