Defra approves a second site for GM potato trials
After public consultation, Defra has now given approval for a site in East Yorkshire to be used by BASF for its GM potato trials programme. The statutory approval is valid until 2011. BASF will not proceed with trials at the East Yorkshire site this year, but may do so in future years.

Last December Defra gave approval to BASF to undertake research trials of a GM disease-resistant potato at a site in Cambridge.

The BASF application for the East Yorkshire site has been evaluated by the independent expert group the Advisory Committee of Releases to the Environment (ACRE). It is satisfied that trials at this site will not result in any adverse effect on human health or the environment.

The GM potato developed by BASF is resistant to late potato blight. This can be a significant disease problem for UK potato growers, who normally combat it by applying chemical fungicides. The purpose of the research trials is to test the effectiveness of the potato’s resistance against UK pathotypes of the disease. Similar trials are already underway in other European countries.

Reflecting ACRE’s advice, precautionary conditions have been attached to the statutory consent for the trials. These aim to ensure that GM material does not persist at the trial sites. The harvested GM potatoes will not be used for food or animal feed.

1. Details of the BASF application, ACRE’s advice and the statutory consent document can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/consents/index.htm (the consent reference is 07/R42/01).