London (1.2.09) – In May 2000, the Welsh Assembly voted unanimously for a “GM-free Wales” (1); what did that mean and how might such a decision fit in with European Union directives? One set of answers was offered some six years ago and they were not promising (2). Wales, after all, is a part of the United Kingdom and hence within the EU. It seemed to signify, perhaps, that there were to be no GM-crops cultivated in Wales although the Welsh Assembly Government has recently said it could not legally ban GM crops but did have a restrictive GM crop policy (3). What does that mean? The implications, if any, for the presence of GM-food in “GM-free Wales” are even less clear.

What, then, is “GM-free”? Does it suggest that no genes or genomes are allowed in Wales if they have been modified? Modified from what? From the way they were on the day of creation? That hardly seems likely as every single one of the crops raised in Wales has had its genome modified by human intervention since it was a wild plant first gathered up by somebody a very long time ago. Perhaps it means no interspecific gene constructs; in which case how can that be reconciled with the cultivation in Wales of triticale, a modern artificial interspecific genetic cross between pasta wheat (Triticum durum) and winter rye (Secale cereale)? Triticale, probably originating in Scotland in 1875 (4), is a hardy crop developed primarily to produce high protein animal feed. Even the Soil Association, that guardian of anti-GM organic rectitude, seems not to be bothered by genetically modified triticale (5); nor is the Welsh Government, since a seed company in Pembrokeshire offers it for sale and advises on its cultivation (6). There appears accordingly to be an arcane distinction between “good” genetic modification, that not perpetrated by the agricultural biotechnology industry, and “bad” which is.

The recent disclosure that Bt-maize had been planted in Wales by Jonathon Harrington, a small farmer near Hay-on-Wye (7, 8), brought forth a predictable howl of outrage from the campaigning groups who advocate a “GM-free” Wales, a howl bemoaning the fact that Wales is permanently “contaminated” and no longer “GM-free” (9). What exactly were they trying to say? There were GM-maize trials in both 2000 and 2001 (10, 11); why did they not cause such “contamination”? Some Welsh farmers probably feed their livestock imported fodder containing GM-soya and there may well be GM material in products on sale in Welsh grocery stores (12); is that also “contamination”? Is Wales then “GM-free” or not? What difference will the most recent plantings have made other than to show that at least some Welsh farmers do not accept the propaganda of the campaigning groups and are out of sympathy with official Welsh policy?

How many such farmers there may be only time will tell. One of the anti-GM groups describes itself as “a grass-roots opposition movement” (13). Fortunately for Wales, the country is also home to different sorts of grass with different sorts of roots: farmers who are not prepared for their futures to be determined by a doctrinaire agricultural dictatorship. As one commentator put it: “If anti-biotech activists can claim that invading farms to tear up biotech crops are acts of civil disobedience, then surely farmers like Harrington can justify planting biotech crops as acts of civil disobedience. The difference is that Harrington has science on his side” (14). And Harrington’s act was not even disobedience: he acted within the law, not outside it as the vandals and bully-boys do.

Sources:

1. Rhodri Clark (22.7.08). Professor urges Wales to embrace GM crops. Western Mail (http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/07/22/professor-urges-wales-to-embrace-gm-crops-91466-21380227/)

2. Denis J Murphy (2003). GM-Free Wales: A discussion document (http://www.agbioworld.org/pdf/GM-free-Wales.pdf)

3. Farmer defies GM-free Wales vote (26,1,09). BBC News at One (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7851374.stm)

4. G.F. Stallknecht, K.M. Gilbertson, and J.E. Ranney (1996). Alternative wheat cereals as food grains: einkorn, emmer, spelt, kamut, and triticale, in Progress in new crops (ed. by J. Janick) (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3-156.html)

5. Details for: Feedstuffs » Feed Triticale » Wales (no date). Soil Association organic marketplace (http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/om.nsf/0/3DEC9C9E3B4C8ECD8025733B00568955)

6. SUPREMO Combicrop (2008). Western Seeds, pages 8, 11, 12 (http://www.westernseeds.com/jsp/uploaded_files/documents/Western-Seeds-CONVENTIONAL-2008.pdf)

7. Caroline Davies (25.1.09). Farmer's secret GM crop defies green rulebook. The Observer (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/25/wales-gm-crops)

8. Jonathon Harrington (28.1.09). Why I planted genetically modified maize on my Welsh farm. The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/28/gm-wales-jonathon-harrington)

9. Kay Sexton (26.1.09). Genetically-modified-food-free Wales undermined. Red Green and Blue (http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/01/26/genetically-modified-food-free-wales-undermined)

10. GM protesters face crop damage charges (14.11.01). BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1656597.stm)

11. GM trials no risk, says watchdog (2.5.01). News Wales (http://www.newswales.co.uk/index.php?section=Environment&F=1&id=3833)

12. Mark Partridge and Denis J. Murphy (2004). Detection of genetically modified soya in a range of organic and health food products. British Food Journal, 106(3), 166-180 (http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do;jsessionid=E03D6D540975C22006227FEB3E503A57?contentType=Article&contentId=870742)

13. Brian John (24-25.4.09). GM Free Wales -- the current situation. European Conference on GMO-free Regions, Biodiversity and Rural Development (http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/fileadmin/files/gmo-free-regions/John_Wales_speech.pdf)

14. Ronald Bailey (26.1.09). Heroic farmer defies anti-biotech crop ban in Wales. Reason (http://reason.com/blog/show/131262.html)

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