Commercial start by 2003?
Commercial start by 2003?
After a year of uncertainty genetically modified
crops appear to have entered a period of greater
stability. Calmer progress towards anticipated
commercialisation in 2003 has replaced the
headlong rush for speedy plantings which brought
such a backlash from opponents. In this special
feature we consider some of the latest
developments in the sector. Edited by Charles Abel
GENETICALLY modified crops are set on a course for full commercialisation in 2003.
Public acceptance could be achieved by then, but swaying supermarket attitudes may prove more difficult.
That is the forecast from David Carmichael, a Lincs farmer and NFU representative on the Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops, the industrys GM co-ordination group.
"MAFFs farm scale studies are due to finish in 2002 and I expect some varieties to have part C clearance by then, which will allow them to be grown and the produce marketed. But I suspect industry will be very careful about how much seed it releases and government will probably insist it is very limited."
Provided messages are well relayed, public acceptance should not be an issue, he suggests. "Consumers are not nearly as concerned as people think they are. It is the supermarkets that are much more likely to be our biggest stumbling block."
Convincing them that sales will not be jeopardised remains a big task. "I suspect GM crop products will be fed to livestock first and once livestock products fed a diet containing GM have been accepted with no impact on sales GM produce itself will be accepted."
Adoption of SCIMACs code of practice for GM crop production has been a big advance this year, he notes. "It is largely built on seed production rules, because we have grown seed successfully without contamination for over 30 years." Any GM grower found breaking the code by the independent auditor will be denied access to GM seed in future. That will protect the environment and consumers, Dr Carmichael says.
But much more explanation of the technology and its benefits is still needed. "Go to the public and listen to them," urges Christine Bruhn of Californias Centre for Consumer Research. "If there are concerns, what are they and how can they be explained?
"Have people even heard of some of the benefits?" she continues. "I would think your people would care if their food was produced with less pesticide."
An alliance of farmers, industry and public organisations is needed to get information out, she says. "But keep in mind that this is not a sales job or public relations, but meeting a need to inform the public."
Dr Carmichael refutes suggestions that education is being used in a high handed way to convert people. "I would like to think that we are de-frightening people, because they are quite frightened at the moment."
What benefits?
Do not necessarily expect GM herbicide tolerant crops to cut costs, warns arable expert Ford Baldwin of Arkansas University, USA. "By the time you have factored in extra seed expenses the costs can be very similar. But weed control is likely to be better and it is much easier. For us yields from Roundup Ready varieties are catching up on conventional yields too, so so-called yield drag is no longer an issue."