GM: UK Food & Farming

GM technology: significance for UK food and farming 

Wednesday 25 February and Thursday 26 February 2009

Debate on GM technology in food and agriculture ended with a decisive 'No' from the UK public about ten years ago. Why reopen the issue now? There have been important changes in the world in the past ten years. This latest in the series of Windsor Consultations on food, farming and the countryside aimed to take stock of those changes, and to discuss what difference they may make to our view of GM.

And so on Wednesday 25th February, forty eight delegates from all aspects of the Farming Industry gathered to debate the many issues surrounding GM technology. The House was delighted to welcome back Sir Don Curry, who chaired the Government’s Policy Commission for the Future of Farming and Food in 2002, and who has actively supported each year, the consultations on Farming issues that the House has covered.

It became clear that many other factors were involved in the development and impact of GM technology: Climate change, the Energy policy, step changes in food production, the environment, and last but not least there are issues of ethics which we all face with GM, and a need  to look at the prospects of benefits to developing countries which may be different from ours, but which we should weigh up in determining our own stance towards GM technology and its place in a world facing new challenges.  We realise from the feedback that there wasn't a consensus in the end but we hope that the situation regarding the present and potential future use of GM was clarified.  

Participants in this consultation heard speakers on all these questions and had the opportunity over two days to debate with these speakers and to discuss what they have heard. It was hoped that in the special setting of St George's House, we could create an opportunity for everyone present to test their views of GM against fresh information, and find stimulus to consider what views should guide us into the future.

The House wishes to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the support that it was given to hold this particular Consultation - firstly to Richard Carden, Fellow of St George's House and former Advisor at the European Commission and former Deputy Secretary at MAFF.  With Richard’s guidance and vision, and diligence in approaching Speakers, the structure and composition of this Consultation took place. Our thanks also go to The Reverend Professor David Atkinson, former Vice Principal of Research at the Scottish College of Agriculture, Edinburgh for his support and guidance over the 12 months that it took to plan this Event. 

Lastly, but my no means least, our sincere and grateful thanks go to our Sponsors:
DEFRA
Tate and Lyle
The Crown Estate
The Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust

It was due to their generosity and support that this Consultation was able to invite and accommodate so many Speakers and Delegates, from the UK and abroad, both in the House and the local Hotel.

A Report of this Consultation will be published in due course, thanks to the sponsorship for publication by The Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust. The Rapporteur is Ms Katharine Scarfe Beckett who is a great supporter of the work of the House. We look forward to reading this Report which will be posted on the House website in due course.

As David Atkinson mentioned in his closing remarks, we intend to continue with the Farming series of Consultations; and very much hope that Sir Don Curry, David, Richard and others, would like to continue this work with St George's House.