Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2022 11 GENETIC TECHNOLOGY ensure that safety, welfare, and environmental issues are all considered, and that legislation is future proofed against new technologies. We have previously called for a public forum to inform decisions on gene editing uses.” Professor Peter Bruce, Vice President and Physical Secretary of the Royal Society, also said it was good to see the UK “rea rming” its commitment to research and developing the technologies required to reach net-zero carbon emissions. e NFU believes precision breeding techniques, such as gene editing, could protect crops from pests and disease, help deliver net zero and allow farmers to produce more home-grown food, and e British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) has welcomed the announcement, saying it would help encourage UK research and innovation. But e Soil Association’s Senior Policy O cer - farming, Louise Payton, described the bill as “a high-tech free-for-all” on a commercial scale. “ ere is clear opposition to this removal of transparency and safety checks. e overwhelming majority (85%) of respondents to the Government’s own consultation are against this move. When facing the combined climate, nature and health crisis, we need action to tackle the causes of disease and poor resilience in the rst place. ese technologies do not do this well and really are the lowest priority on what is a very long list for the Government, and they must not be used as a risky PR front for inaction,” she said. “ e move is also a direct violation of choice by the Government for farmers and consumers who chose non-GM and in con ict with organic standards which are enshrined in UK law.” Soil Association Policy Director Jo Lewis added: “To prioritise a genetic engineering de-regulation Bill over the Food Bill called for by the National Food Strategy smacks of a government casting about for silver bullets. It avoids dealing head-on with the transformation needed in our food and farming system for true security and resilience. As highlighted by the National Food Strategy and the new report by Chatham House, agroecological farming and a shift to healthy and sustainable diets is the most evidence-based solution for climate, nature and health. Government’s response to that recommendation is long overdue. She added: “We should be investing in solutions that deal with the cause of disease and pests in the rst place. History has proven that GM only bene ts a minority of What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear your feedback on the bill – get in touch at stephaniecornwall@warnersgroup.co.uk big businesses with a major rise in controlling crop patents and unwelcome, pro table traits such as herbicide-resistant weeds.” e Scottish Government has long said it wants to maintain a GM-free crop status, but farming union NFU Scotland (NFUS) says growers need access to GE technology to become more sustainable. “New technologies, including the likes of gene editing can help positively address some of the big challenges Scottish agriculture faces, including how we respond to the climate emergency and address biodiversity loss,” said NFUS President Martin Kennedy in a recent interview with e Press and Journal. The Bill launched into Parliament on May 25th. Photo: Mark Stuckey NIAB Chief Executive Professor Mario Caccamo: “helping global food supplies keep pace”. Soil Association Senior Policy O cer Louise Payton: “a high-tech free-for-all”. Professor Peter Bruce: ““rea rming commitment to research and developing technologies”. Policy Director Jo Lewis: “GM only benefits a minority of big businesses”. Professor Dame Linda Partridge: “technologies should be based on the outcome of any genetic changes”. NFUS president Martin Kennedy: “gene editing can help positively address big challenges to agriculture”. “The UK has some incredible academic centres of excellence and they are poised to lead the way.”