At present only two rows of 192 potatoes are being grown at the Sainsbury Laboratory,
behind a £20,000 high-security fence. Critics say the £1m project risks contaminating
neighboring farms. However, Professor Jonathan Jones, a scientist working on the trial,
dismissed the criticism as “ridiculous” and said the research would save money and the
environment by reducing the need for pesticides. If the trial proves successful, Jones
hopes commercial production of GM potatoes could start within five years.

The coalition government has appointed Caroline Spelman, as environment secretary.
Spelman recently praised “the beneficial effects” of GM in the “right circumstances”,
citing the Norfolk potato trial, which she approved, as an example.

However, an investigation to gauge public opinion on GM crops has run into controversy.

Two members of the steering group overseeing it have resigned, claiming it has been

hijacked for “GM propaganda”. Professor Brian Wynne, vice-chairman of the group, and

Helen Wallace, director of the think tank GeneWatch, both left within a week of each other.

The Food Standards Agency has denied the claims and insists the consultation is “balanced”.

The proponents of GM technology claim that it is needed to combat the threat of food shortages
that may be caused by climate change, depleted resources and population growth. A report last
year by the Royal Society called for “a new revolution in agriculture”, with £2 billion investment
in research and development before “it’s too late”. It claimed that within 20 years Britain could
be a world leader in producing drought-resistant, self-fertilizing “super-crops”.

Source: Sunday Times - UK Division