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Latest Scottish GM Trials Receive Approval
23/08/2000
Ross Finnie, today gave formal approval for four Scottish farms to plant GM oilseed rape this autumn as part of the UK-wide farm scale evaluation programme.
Approval has been given following advice from the Executive's expert advisory bodies to the effect that the GM testing does not pose a safety threat to either the environment or to public health.
The Minister for Rural Affairs said:
"These new Scottish sites will enable valuable data to be collected from areas where this crop is a significant part of the agricultural landscape. The farms taking part will play a valuable role in ensuring that the future of GM crops in this country is decided on the basis of practical agricultural experience and sound scientific research.
"We will not however take risks with our environment. The decision to approve these trials has been taken following clear expert advice from the independent advisory bodies that these crops do not pose a safety threat to the surrounding countryside or wildlife. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has given that assurance. Without it these trials would not proceed.
"I must emphasise that farm scale evaluations are not intended to assess the safety of the GM crops themselves. That has been determined by extensive laboratory and small scale testing over a number of years and across several countries. The evaluations are designed to show the effect on the environment, if any, of the different agricultural practices required to grow GM crops on a farm scale. The UK programme is unique in this respect.
"I am aware that the report by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany has suggested that greater separation distances may be needed to avoid unacceptable levels of cross-pollination with certain types of oilseed rape known as varietal associations and partially restored hybrids to ensure crop purity. The characteristics of these particular crop types make them particularly susceptible to cross-pollination. In accordance with the findings of the report, we have secured a commitment for these trials that a separation distance of at least 100m will be maintained from all sites where varietal associations are to be grown. In practice, the actual distances will be considerably greater on most sites."
The Scottish Executive has also approved two applications for the release of the same GM rape crop in experimental plots at agricultural research institutes in Scotland. These applications have also been assessed by the expert advisors who are satisfied that these trials can proceed without giving rise to any safety concerns.
As with the larger farm scale evaluations, these smaller trials will be inspected and monitored closely to ensure that the strict conditions under which the consent has been granted are adhered to.
BACKGROUND
- The first Farm Scale Evaluation site in Scotland was announced in March 2000 when a site in Aberdeenshire was given approval to grow spring-sown oilseed rape. The consent which was issued today by the Scottish Executive approves the proposals for 4 winter oilseed rape sites in Scotland which were announced on 3 August:
| GRID REFERENCE | LOCATION |
|---|
| NJ 753 343 | Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire |
| NH 662 563 | Munlochy, Ross-shire |
| NJ 768 279 | Daviot, Aberdeenshire |
| NJ 744 300 | Daviot, Aberdeenshire |
- The agreement which the Scottish Executive and the UK Government have with the industry umbrella organisation Scimac (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops) ensures that no GM crops will be grown commercially in this country until the evaluation programme is completed. The earliest that could happen is 2003.
- Sites which have been identified for inclusion in the programme must comply with a protocol agreed by an independent Scientific Steering Committee. The aim of the research is to test the effects of crop management on biodiversity. GM crops are planted in half of the field; the rest of the field is planted with an equivalent non-GM crop. The GM and the non-GM crop are grown and managed normally. The non-GM oilseed rape crop will be treated with the usual range of weed and pest controls and the GM crop will be treated, as necessary, with Liberty - the specific herbicide to which its modification has made it tolerant. This tolerance is the only difference between the modified crop and its conventional counterpart.
- The researchers will study the differences in the number and types of weeds and insects (including butterflies and bees) in the GM half of the field as compared with the other half. Pollen transfer and cross-pollination also form part of the research programme. In subsequent years the researchers will continue to study these fields to look for any differences in wildlife in the follow-on crops.
- The fields of winter oilseed rape will be planted this autumn.
- For more information about the farm scale evaluations and GM policy see the Scottish Executive GM website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/gm/
Separation Distances
- The purpose of separation distances, which are widely used in commercial agriculture, is to secure desired levels of crop purity by limiting cross pollination between different varieties and types of the same crop. The SCIMAC guidelines for growing herbicide tolerant crops include separation distances between GM and non-GM crops of the same type.
- Separation distances between GM and other crops are subject to regular review. The current UK review includes three elements:
- a scientific review of the relationship between separation and crop purity;
- consultation of farmers and other interested groups; and
- an assessment of any lessons that could be learned from discovery of adventitious GM presence in conventional oilseed rape seed produced in Canada.
- The report by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), published on 3 August, was a desk study of existing knowledge on the relationship between separation distances and levels of crop varietal purity. In general, the report suggests that current separation distances ensure a high level of purity for non-GM crops. However, the report suggests that certain types of oilseed rape, called varietal associations and partially restored hybrids, may be more susceptible to cross-pollination than other conventional oilseed rape varieties. It suggests that for these varieties separation distances of 100m may be required to deliver less than one per cent cross-pollination levels.
News Release: SE2283/2000
23 Aug 2000