Farm-scale evaluations of GM herbicide tolerant crops

The results of the fourth and final crop tested in the farm-scale evaluations (FSE), GM winter oilseed rape, were published on 21st March 2005. The results of the three spring-sown crops tested in the FSE were published earlier, on 16th October 2003. Full copies of the results together with summaries and interpretive material are available free to download, details at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/fse.

ACRE’s advice

ACRE have published the following advice on the GM crop farm-scale evaluation results:

• GMHT winter oilseed rape (published 18 July 2005) (PDF) (180 KB)
• GMHT maize, beet and spring oilseed rape (published 13 January 2004) (PDF) (120 KB)

Open meetings and call for evidence

Prior to the release of the FSE results ACRE announced that it would give any interested parties the opportunity to consider the FSE results and their implications and to submit evidence as part of the deliberation process.

2005: FSE winter oilseed rape results

Evidence was accepted for a period of six weeks following publication of the results. Ten submissions were received and are available to read at www.olive360.com/acre.

ACRE held a public open meeting on 25th May 2005 in London. The FSE researchers were invited to make a presentation. Prior to the meeting ACRE members selected from the written submissions a number of contributions to be heard in person. The selection was made to provide a range of opinions concerning the implications of the FSE winter oilseed rape results, with a focus on submissions that the Committee felt addressed issues that were of particular relevance for their deliberations. Each invited contributor was given the opportunity to present their argument and then ACRE members asked questions of the contributor. The whole meeting concluded with a period of questions from the floor. Details of the invited contributions and video footage of the meeting are available at www.olive360.com/acre.

2003: FSE maize, beet and spring oilseed rape results

Evidence was accepted for a period of a month following publication of the results. Sixty eight submissions were received.

ACRE held two public open meetings, on 25 November 2003 in London and 4 December 2003 in Edinburgh. Prior to the meetings ACRE members selected from 60 written submissions a number of contributions to be heard in person. A contribution was also received from the GM Science Panel chaired by Sir David King. The selection of 14 submissions was made to provide a range of opinions concerning the implications of the FSE results, with a focus on submissions that the Committee felt addressed issues that were important for their deliberations. In addition the FSE researchers were invited to make a presentation at each of the open meetings. Each invited contributor was given the opportunity to present their argument and then ACRE members asked questions of the contributor. Each meeting was concluded with a period for questions from the floor.