Consultation responses
Detailed, referenced, written responses to a wide range of formal consultations concerning issues relating to GM in food and farming. This includes objections to UK GM field trials, submissions to parliamentary inquiries and more. Multi-agency responses are submitted on behalf of GM Freeze and other organisations.
National Food Strategy
24 Oct 2019
GM Freeze submission to the open Call for Evidence for the proposed new National Food Strategy, in which we propose:
- High standards achieved through robust regulation of the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- Informed choice through clear consumer labelling and meaningful public engagement that values lay contributions and incorporates social, ethical and economic impacts alongside scientific analysis.
- Value and protect genetic diversity by discouraging monoculture and opposing the patenting of genetic resources.
- Address root problems within the food and farming system, rather than treating the symptoms.
Nuffield Council on Bioethics – Genome Editing and Farmed Animals
19 Sep 2019
GM Freeze responded to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics call for evidence on Genome Editing and Farmed Animals. Key points in our evidence include:
- There is growing evidence that genome editing is not as precise or targeted as those promoting it would have us believe.
- Many proposed applications of genome editing to farmed animals are likely to perpetuate and deepen the negative impacts of intensive farming.
- Public involvement in the development of policy and regulation of genome editing in farmed animals must be meaningful and broad ranging.
- We are concerned about the framing of the background and questions in the call for evidence to the inquiry.
Defra: Multi-agency response to GM potato trial 19/R29/01
16 Apr 2019
GM Freeze and thirty other organisations asked Defra to refuse The Sainsbury Laboratory permission to plant an open field trial of GM potatoes.
Defra: Multi-agency response to GM camelina trial 19/R08/01
20 Mar 2019
GM Freeze and thirty-four other organisations asked Defra to refuse Rothamsted Research’s application for a new open field trial of GM camelina plants.
Defra: Multi-agency response to GM wheat trial 19/R52/02
26 Feb 2019
GM Freeze and thirty-two other organisations come together to ask Defra not to allow the John Innes Centre to plant an open-air field trial of GM wheat.
Defra: Multi-agency response to GM brassica trial 19/R52/01
26 Feb 2019
GM Freeze and thirty-one other organisations come together to ask Defra not to allow the John Innes Centre to hold an open-air field trial of genome-edited GM Brassica
