19th November 2007

The shocking extent of Government funding of GM has been revealed by Friends of the Earth and GM Freeze obtaining documents under Freedom of Information.

The Government is failing farmers in Gloucestershire. Funding for agricultural biotechnology research amounts to around £50 million per year with considerable political and regulatory support: the UK for example has consistently voted against the majority at the EU to lift all bans on GM crops. In contrast support and research to organic farming, which provides clear benefits for consumers, farmers and the economy, is being starved with just £1.6 million funding last year.

Tony Blair insisted that the Government was "neither for nor against" GM and the then Environment minister, Elliot Morley, said: "There is an open and transparent process for their assessment and all relevant material will be put in the public domain." This is deeply questionable as this funding information has only come to light after repeated requests under Freedom of Information (i).

There is growing evidence that GM had been a disaster for farmers and consumers and can lead to contamination of other crops. The South West has the largest area in the country of organic agriculture: over 900 farms (21% of the UKs total). This is under threat if GM crops are to be grown here.

Labour seems more interested in keeping close to its corporate friends in the biotech industry than in safeguarding our environment and health. The Government must recognise that it is investing in failure and shift its support to the booming sustainable farming sector (ii).

Councillor Martin Whiteside
Hillside, Claypits Lane, Lypiatt, Stroud
Green Party District Councillor and Parliamentary Candidate
 

Notes

(i) The GM industry in the UK has benefited not only from funding but also political and regulatory support. Friends of the Earth highlight several key areas including:
- The Government's advisory committee on GM releases to the environment has called for a system that concentrates on their claimed benefits of GM rather than its risks
- DEFRA consulted with biotech company BASF this year to ensure that  conditions for the planting of GM potato trials in Cambridge and Yorkshire  were 'acceptable'

Summary of the report available at:
 http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/jobs_report_summary.pdf

(ii) Sales of organic food in the UK have increased by 22% in the last year and are touching the £2 billion pound mark. Organic farming is at the forefront of cutting-edge business with 39% of organic farms practising innovative marketing and processing techniques. Furthermore, organic farming consistently performs better on environmental grounds. Evaluations of growing GM herbicide tolerant crops in the UK found that two out of three crops led to reduced food and habitats available for wildlife on farms. DEFRA studies have proven environmental benefits and increased wildlife on organic farms.