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Letter to The Scotsman, Scotland, Wednesday 15 July 2009 |
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Dear Sir Mr Boyle (Letters, 13 July) seems to be missing the point about GM. No one is claiming that GM alone is going to produce enough food to feed the world's population; however, it is likely to be an essential part of the solution by improving productivity and food quality, and reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. GM technology is already playing a role in advancing developing nations' economic progress by increasing yields of food crops such as maize and cash crops such as cotton, and in the near future, it will contribute to the "climate-proofing" of agriculture with crops that can survive drought and require less fertiliser.
Yours faithfully, Dr Julian Little Chairman The Agricultural Biotechnology Council |
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Letter to The Herald, Scotland, Thursday 30 April 2009 |
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Dear Sir Hugh Raven, director of the Soil Association, has expressed concern that a Government minister had noted rising food prices and food shortages in the world's poorest countries as a reason for Britain to consider relaxing its policy on the use of genetically modified (GM) crops ("UK stance on GM foods leaves a sour taste", The Herald, April 24). Mr Raven's arguments against GM are fundamentally flawed, and he failed to present an alternative solution to the challenge of feeding nine billion people around the world by 2050. Unless we amend our methods of agricultural production, it will be impossible to meet this growing demand for food. We have three choices. We make more food from the land we currently farm; we bring more land into production and accept the environmental consequences; or we allow people to starve. For us in the affluent West, food security issues mean food price inflation; for the under-developed countries it means diminishing food availability. The key is producing more food on the same or less land to increase supply and meet growing demand. Increases in crop yields have long been the advantage of GM, and this is a consumer benefit with international importance. GM is not the only solution, but it can help by improving productivity and food quality, and reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. GM can help stabilise food supplies and reduce rising prices of commodities such as milk, meat and staple foods. It can play a role in advancing developing nations' economic progress by increasing yields of food crops such as maize and cash crops such as cotton. And it can help the environmental and carbon footprint of agriculture. In the near future, it could lead to the "climate-proofing" of agriculture with crops that can survive drought and require less fertilizer. After 13 years of commercial growing of GM crops and more than two trillion meals containing GM ingredients later, there is not a shred of substantiated evidence of harm to human health. In fact, GM technology in agriculture has been an astonishing success. Last year, 13.3 million farmers from 25 different countries planted more than 125 million hectares of GM crops, an area the size of the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Belgium put together. In Europe, however, we have not seen the same uptake of the technology. The reason is simple: the regulatory system surrounding the registering of GM crops for cultivation is dysfunctional, with politics allowed to ride roughshod over scientific assessment. As a result, in the past 10 years, there has been only one GM crop approved for cultivation by European farmers. Without proper reform to the European assessment processes, Scottish farmers will continue to be denied the opportunity to benefit from the potential of biotechnology. Many want this choice. Jim McLaren, President of the National farmers Union NFU Scotland, said last year, "What could be better than intruding a gene to the potato crop that would provide resistance to blight, a disease common in Scotland because of our humid climate? Such a new strain of potatoes would end the need for spraying crops up to 15 times in the growing season. That has to be in the best interest of consumers and the environment." Why shouldn't farmers have the freedom to choose modern, efficient high-yielding farming methods based on tried and tested science both to produce enough food and to safeguard our natural resources? Dr Julian Little Chairman The Agricultural Biotechnology Council The letter can be viewed as published here:filehttp://www.theherald.co.uk/search/display.var.2505078.0.european_reform_needed_so_that_scottish_agriculture_can_grow_and_prosper_from_gm_farming.php
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Letter to The Independent on Sunday, 12 October 2008 |
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Prince Charles's assertions that suicides in India have been exacerbated by the introduction of GM are gratuitous and deeply worrying ("Charles targets GM crop giants in fiercest attack yet", 5 October). As Geoffrey Lean rightly points out, suicides were occurring long before GM crops were introduced, and we cannot condone using the tragic situation faced by some farmers in India for political point-scoring by NGOs. The reality is that genetically modified crops are already helping over 12 million farmers around the world by delivering more consistent yields of higher quality crops. The vast majority of these farmers are resource-poor growers with small plots of land whose lives can be significantly improved through GM technology. Prince Charles should ensure that he looks to both the science and the facts before making such rash and inflammatory statements.
Dr Julian Little The letter can also be viewed here: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/letters/iiosi-letters-emails--texts-12-october-2008-958587.html |
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Letter to The Guardian, 26 September 2008 |
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Farmers should be allowed to grow GM crops GM crops are already helping over 12m farmers around the world by delivering more consistent yields of higher-quality crops (Letters, September 25). About nine out of 10 of these are resource-poor growers with small plots of land, whose lives can be significantly improved through GM technology. Besides improving productivity, GM crops can help alleviate pressure on land and water resources, and hence offer a more reliable source of food and income. GM crops grown over the past 12 years on over 1bn acres have been found to increase yields in practice, compared with conventional crops. According to a European commission study in June, Spanish farmers adopting GM maize experienced higher average yields than conventional maize growers over the three-year study period. Further, GM technology is safe. In fact, in the last decade, more than 200bn meals containing GM ingredients have been consumed, without a single substantiated example of harm to health. And in complete contrast to your correspondents' wild allegations, the commission's Joint Research Centre has also completed an extensive review, concluding that GM foods cause no harm. It is wrong that activists should continue to mislead the public. Farmers in the UK and worldwide know the crop characteristics that are most desirable for their productivity, the environment and their customers. They should be granted the choice to grow GM crops, if they wish. Ironically, as Friends of the Earth rightly points out, local food needs must be met by "combining science and technology with communities' traditional knowledge". This must include agricultural biotechnology.
Julian Little The letter can also be viewed here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/26/gmcrops.agriculture |
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Science minister attempts to reopen debate on GM crops, The Guardian, 22 September 2008 |
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Science minister attempts to reopen the debate on GM crops. We must show benefits of hi-tech food, says Pearson abc welcomes the positive comments of Science Minister, Ian Pearson MP. James Randerson reports, 'Pearson said GM research held great potential for producing crop varieties that would help poor people in developing countries. "We can produce drought-resistant crops, salt-resistant crops. These could have huge potential benefits for people in developing countries and I think that we should be allowed to do the research," he said'. The full article including comment from abc can be fround here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/22/gmcrops.food |
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The World Needs GM Agriculture, Comment is Free, 14 August 2008 |
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The World Needs GM Agriculture; GM crops can boost productivity in lean times. Prince Charles was wrong to dismiss them out of hand In 2007, 12 million farmers grew GM crops over an area of 114m hectares (281m acres) in 23 different countries. From the prairie farmers who grow GM crops across 10,000 hectares to the farmers who use this technology on less than one hectare, GM is a global reality and is used on average on areas of just less than 10 hectares. Not quite the technology that only helps big corporations and big farmers, as suggested by Prince Charles, then. In reality, of those farmers growing GM crops, 11 million are resource-poor farmers living and working in developing countries such as South Africa, India and China. Contrary to the allegations made, many of the seeds are supplied through their own countries' institutes, and are designed to help solve problems that farmers have in growing crops for food, feed, fibres and fuel. Food security is back on the international agenda - after the surpluses of food experienced in the 1970s and 1980s, the demand for food is again starting to exceed supply. For us in the affluent west, food security issues mean food inflation, but for the developing countries it means food availability. The cure is productivity - producing more food (on the same or less land) to increase supply and meet that demand. Increases in crop yields have long been the advantage of GM, and this is now a crucial consumer benefit with international importance. You can read the full article by Julian Little, abc Chair, here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/14/gmcrops.food |
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Letter to the Observer, 4 May 2008 |
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Food Shortages and Incredible Arguments Dear Sir, Robin McKie addresses the criticism of the biotechnology industry, based on assumptions that it is driven by 'international conglomerates', which is not always the case. For Hawaiian farmers whose papaya crop was ravaged by the ringspot virus in the Nineties, GM technology was a saving grace. Not through big business, but scientists at Cornell University who used GM technology to create a crop resistant to ringspot virus that saved the Hawaiian papaya industry from collapse. One would hope that if a similar event were to occur on our shores, environmental campaigners would support British farmers' access to such beneficial technology. Yours Faithfully,
Chair, Agricultural Biotechnology Council (abc) This letter and other letters contributed on this issue can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/04/gmcrops.food |
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Letter to the Guardian, 1 March 2008 |
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Dear Sir, Illegal attacks on legal scientific trials are indefensible and Peter Melchett seems to miss the point in his recent comments (The GM debate is not about scientists versus anti-capitalists 26/2/08). Surely the Soil Association does not condone illegal activity? It is essential that scientific trials approved by the UK Government are conducted without interference from a small minority of extremist groups who are preventing the collection of important scientific data. The facts are clear, in 2003 when the Farm Scale Evaluations took place trials were illegally ripped from the ground and more recently BASF suffered interference from activists on a trial in Cambridge. It is right and proper that we look at measures to prevent illegal activity such as this. Mr. Melchett wrongly claims that opposition to GM in the EU is growing. As the Attitude to Foods survey by the Food standards Authority (24.2.08), clearly demonstrated, consumers primary concerns are the levels of salt, fat and sugar in the foods that they eat; only one in five consumers have any concern over GM. A study into the attitude of farmers by the Open University this week, announced that farmers recognise the clear economic and environmental benefits of GM crops to themselves and the wider public. It demonstrated that new technologies are seen as way to achieve high quality produce at a low cost for consumers, whilst being socially responsible. Last year European farmers cultivated GM crops on 110 thousand hectares and this figure is to increase massively in coming years. They have tried it, and it works. At the recent annual conference of the National Farmers Union, Professor John Beddington the Government's Chief Scientist along with Secretary of State Hillary Benn rightly recognized that we can no longer debate new agricultural technologies in isolation. Climate change is a reality and we need to produce more food from our land sustainably. New technologies, GM and non-GM, should be assessed on their scientific merits and not on hear say. Yours Faithfully, Julian Little Chair, Agricultural Biotechnology Council (abc) |
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Letter to Yorkshire Post, 28 February 2008 |
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Scientific trials of GM crops must go ahead unmolested Dear Sir,
YOUR article "University bid to give trials to planting of GM potato" (Country Week, Yorkshire Post, February 23) recognises the worrying reality faced by scientists such as Prof Howard Atkinson who wish to conduct field trials of their important work on GM, outside the laboratory. A study into the attitude of farmers by the Open University this week, announced that farmers recognise the clear economic and environmental benefits of GM crops to themselves and the wider public. It demonstrated that new technologies are seen as a way to achieve high quality produce at a low cost for consumers, while being socially responsible. This is why last year 12 million farmers cultivated GM crops on 280 million acres in 23 countries. They have tried it, and it works. As the Government's Chief Scientist remarked last week at the annual conference of the National Farmers' Union: "It seems to me to be insanity to throw away potential solutions of scientific problems and to practical problems that the (farming] industry have". Yours Faithfully, Julian Little Chair, Agricultural Biotechnology Council (abc) |
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ModifyingAttitudes, Fresh Produce Journal, February 2008 |
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Anna Sbuttoni reports that genetic modification is one of the most sensitive issues to hit the food industry, with the fresh produce sector split by fears about the potential repercussions of the technology and serious concerns about holding back scientific progress. However, it notes that the world population is multiplying at a breakneck rate and climate change is expected to make an impact on food production, while countries such as the US and China have taken the biotechnology on board and quetsions could GM be in need of a rethink in the UK? |
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Is GM the Answer? FT.com, January 2008 |
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As part of a wider feature on the rising cost of food abc is featured on FT.com as part ofa clip entitled "Is GM the answer". The opposing view is presented by Friends of the Earth. Dr Julian Little argues that GM can work in two ways for climate change: reducing soil erosion and significantly reducing the amount of fuel used in agriculture. The clip can be found at: media.ft.com |
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Costing The Earth, BBC Radio 4, 17th January 2008 |
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In this week's Costing The Earth Tom Heap investigated whether GM crops are the answer to feeding the Worlds starving? Heap outlined the demographic questions facing society, referring to the three billion extra people needed to be fed by 2050. Speaking on behalf of abc, Dr Julian Little said that he believed GM was part of the solution, and that those supporting GM did not profess to see it as the only solution. The full debate, including contributions from abc, Lord Taverne, GM Watch, DEMOS and HarvestPlus can be listened to at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/costingtheearth.shtml |
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Letter to the Daily Mail, 27th December 2007 |
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"It's important to emphasise the challenges facing the agricultural sector GM technologies can help to ensure the optimal use of natural resources with the land we have available, and could provide an effective solution to the increasing demands for both food and fuel. GM crops are now used by more than ten million farmers in 22 different countries who have already reaped the many benefits of the technology, including increased yields, reduced costs, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and a reduced environmental footprint. It's essential that British consumers have access to validated information on all matters relating to GM crops. This should include a balanced debate rather than attacks on individuals. Dr JULIAN LITTLE, Agricultural Biotechnology Council, London WC1. |
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EU GM crop area expands, Farmers Weekly, 29th October 2007 |
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Farmers Weekly reported the news that GM crops, all maize, were grown on more than 100,000ha (250,000 acres) in the EU last year - a 77% increase on the 2006 figure. The news, from biotech industry association EuropaBio, came shortly after the EU Commission approved three GM crop varieties for import as food, feed and processing and one GM sugar beet variety for use in food and feed, according to abc. http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2007/10/29/107908/eu-gm-crop-area-expands.html |
| Europe's GM crops cover expands, by Tom Heap, BBC News, 29th October 2007 |
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The BBC reported that figures from Europa Bio show the area planted with genetically modified crops in Europe has grown by 77% since last year. abc commented: "For the first time in the European Union, there is over a 100,000 hectares of GM crops being grown, exploding yet another myth in the whole line of myths that said that GM crops don't work, GM crops will never be popular, GM crops will never be embraced in Europe. |
| Today progamme, BBC Radio 4, 29th October 2007 |
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abc was asked to comment on the Europa Bio figures on the area planted with GM crops in the EU. Chairman of abc, Dr Julian Little, explained that the most important thing about the figures is that they are another milestone, exploding yet another myth that GM crops are not popular. In response to concerns from Friends of the Earth Dr Little said that the reality was that year on year farmers are trying the technology and are excited that it works. He added that where farmers try it, it works and there must be benefits. |
| ‘Britain losing out on GM crops says expert', Daily Telegraph, 18th September 2007 |
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A report in the Daily Telegraph highlighted that Professor Sir Howard Dalton, then the chief scientific adviser to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, had told the paper that developing GM produce would bring environmental benefits. Commenting, chairman of abc Dr Julian Little, said that 10 million farmers were benefiting from GM crops - nine million in developing countries. |
| ‘Return of GM: ministers back moves to grow crops in the UK', The Guardian, 17th September 2007 |
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A report in the Guardian suggested that Government Ministers had given their support to a renewed campaign by farmers to introduce GM crops in the UK. Responding to the speculation Dr Julian Little, Chairman of abc said "We have absolutely every confidence that GM will be used in the UK". In response to environmental campaigners he also said that GM is "safe, high-quality technology that's been proven to work". |
| You and Yours on biofuels, 6th August 2007 |
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Colin Merritt of North East Biofuels and Monsanto (a member company of abc) was interviewed on Radio 4's You and Yours programme on the topic "The role of GM in meeting biofuels targets". He said there are good examples of the use of GM such as reducing the need for nitrogen fertiliser - one of the largest elements of agriculture's carbon footprint. He also said that we need to "produce the best of food and fuel, most productively" and GM should be part of that mix. |
| Sky News Interview, 20th April 2007 |
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The planting by abc member company BASF of GM potatoes modified to be resistant to the potato disease late blight, led Sky News to set up a televised debate between abc chairman Dr Julian Little and a spokeswoman from Friends of the Earth. The campaigner opened the debate by arguing that there was an environmental impact to GM products. Dr Little set out the benefits of GM technology and highlighted that anyone concerned by climate change or the problems of feeding a growing population whilst promoting biodiversity and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from agriculture should support attempts to exploit cutting edge technologies such as GM. |