GM Freeze in the news

‘Healthy’ purple tomato developed in Norwich not for sale in UK over GM restrictions

GM Freeze’s Leonie Nimmo puts the case against a genetically modified tomato to ITV New Anglia.

More information is available in the article ‘Snake oil tomatoes: As some much-hyped genetically modified tomatoes are launched in the USA, GM Freeze asks, why bother?’.

FSA under fire for ‘misleading’ post-Brexit precision breeding proposals

GM Freeze’s complaint to the Food Standards Agency on the timing of the ‘precision bred’ organism consultation is highlighted by The Grocer.

Gene editing wars: Experts warn FSA is misleading public

GM Freeze’s Leonie Nimmo quoted in Feed Navigator on the “chilling impact” of the timing of key GM consultation.

Who regulates the regulators? Caroline Lucas MP responds to question from GM Freeze

At the Soil Association’s 2023 Peter Melcett memorial lecture, GM Freeze’s Leonie Nimmo asked Green MP Caroline Lucas what transparency there is of lobbying in a post-Brexit UK regulatory system. The response? It’s a massively important gap in our overall governance.

The full video of the event ‘Re-imagining politics in an age of environmental breakdown’ is available here.

GM Freeze Director Leonie Nimmo on Farming Today responding to a Royal Society report calling for deregulation

Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 24 October 2023 (timecode 8:30).

A clip of the interview, where Leonie explains the precautionary principle, was also used on the Today programme.

Today, BBC Radio 4, 24 October 2023 (timecode 55:33).

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill comments on GM purple tomatoes (no link available)

Look East, BBC One (east of England), 28 July 2023 – no link available

Norwich scientists hope purple tomato will soon be sold in UK

BBC News (Norfolk), 29 July 2023

Can lessons from the passage of the Genetic Technology Act help us to raise a louder collective voice?

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill writing for the Civil Society Alliance, 3 July 2023

GM Freeze Director explains concerns about changes to GM regulations

Farming Today, 6 June 2023 (available until 5 June)

European organics ponder gene-editing coexistence

Manitoba Co-operator, 2 June 2023

Gene edited crops become legal with no requirement to share location

Wicked Leeks, 26 April, 2023

New law gives GMOs free rein but food traders can help defend the right to choose

Better Food Traders – guest blog by GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill, March 2023

New GMOs will evade scrutiny as controversial bill passes

Sustain – guest blog written by GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill, 6 March 2023.

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses new Genetic Technology Bill

Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 24 March 2023 (from the start of the programme, available until 22 April)

Approach gene edited crops claims “with cynicism”

Farmers Guardian, 11 January 2023

Report calls for end of “costly” genetic modification prohibition

Engineering & Technology, 23 December 2022

Discussion about Welsh regulation of genome edited crops

BBC Wales Today, 21 July 2022 (from 13 mins 44sec, only available to view again for 24 hours).

Call for Wales gene-edited crops to fight ‘food crisis’

BBC News, Wales Politics, 21 July 2022

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses gene editing and the UK Genetic Technology Bill

Farming Matters, BBC Radio Ulster, 5 July 2022 (from the start of the programme, available until 3 August).

Experimental cultivation of vitamin D tomato in England

Informationsdienst Gentechnik (Genetic engineering information service), 19 June 2022 – in German

Is the UK moving too fast in introducing gen editing tech?

The Grocer, 10 June 2022 (you will need to register to see the whole article)

UK Gene-Editing Bill Raises Animal Welfare Concerns

The Epoch Times, 31 May 2022

GM tech process focus on malaria

MENAFN, 24 May 2022

UK Government proposes crop gene-editing in bid to increase food security

Speciality Food, 27 May 2022

Unlabeled gene-edited food to be sold in the UK

EcoWatch, 27 May 2022

Plans to relax rules for Gene-Edited foods in England

NTD UK News, 25 May 2022

Fury over plans for gene-edited ‘Frankenfoods’ to be sold UNLABELLED in UK: Scotland and Wales vow to reject move as supermarkets refuse to confirm if they will even sell altered crops

Mail online, 25 May 2022

Fresh produce industry urges government caution following gene editing announcement

The Grocer, 26 May 2022

Gene-edited foods to be sold unlabelled in supermarkets

The Times, 25 May 2022

Discussion of GM tomatoes

Farming Today, 24 May 2022 (story begins 8mins 50seconds, available until 22 June 2022).

The British government will vote on genetically modified crops on Wednesday

Retail Crowd, 25 May 2022 [Note: the first reading of the Genetic Technology Bill, which did take place on Wednesday 25 May, does not involve a Parliamentary vote]

“A clear and urgent public health need”: Professor Cathie Martin on her team’s vitamin D-rich gene edited tomatoes

Food Matters Live, 25 May 2022

Gene editing could increase food security, UK adviser says

Techregister, 25 May 2022

Government green-lights the development of ‘gene edited’ crops and livestock in the UK – and says they will be sold UNLABELLED in supermarket

Dail Mail, 25 May 2022

Government sends gene-edited food bill to Parliament

BBC News website, 25 May 2022

Gene editing could increase food security, UK adviser says

The Guardian, 25 May 2022

Plant scientists welcome UK bill to deregulate crop engineering

Financial Times, 25 May 2022

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill comments on GM tomato trials

ITV News Anglia (East), 24 May 2022 – only available to view for 24 hours

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses suggestions that GM deregulation can solve food chain problems caused by war in Ukraine (no link available)

We Need to Talk About… with Alex Phillips, GB News, 23 May 2022 (no link available)

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses GM tomatoes and deregulation plans (no link available)

BBC News Channel, 23 May 2022 (not available to watch again)

Gene-edited tomatoes could soon be sold in England

BBC News website, 23 May 2022

Gene-edited crop production in Britain will be sped up to tackle Ukraine food crisis

Daily Mail, 23 May 2022

The sci-fi technology tackling malarial mosquitoes

BBC News website, 23 May 2022

Impossible Foods’ chicken nuggets: a good imitation of a bad fast food

The New Statesman, 19 May 2022

Unregulated Genetically Modified food coming to UK stores?

Half hour interview with GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill on Loveworld UK News (a faith based broadcaster), 18 May 2022

Queen’s Speech: Gene editing of animals and plants to get green light

The Independent, 10 May 2022

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses UK government plans for GM deregulation

RT America, 28 January 2022

Gene editing: Genetic modification with better PR

Green World, 9 November 2021

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses gene edited GMOs and Government plans for deregulation

Breakfast Show, Voice of Islam Radio, 13 October 2021 (from 34mins)

GM Freeze arguments put to GM Developer

Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 12 October 2021 (from 2mins 50sec, available until 10 November 2021)

Eustice begins dismantling GM safeguards, despite strong public opposition

Article by GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill, for the Sustainable Food Trust, 8 October 2021

Comments on Government plans for GM deregulation

Farmers Weekly Podcast, 1 October 2021 (from approximately 29 minutes)

Eustice goes ahead with unpopular plan to dismantle GM safeguards

Opinion piece by GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill in Reaction, 30 September 2021

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses Government plans for GM deregulation

Times Radio, 30 September 2021 (from 1hr 34minutes, available until 7 October)

Rule changes announced to make developing ‘gene edited’ crops easier

Bromsgrove Advertiser, 29 September 2021

Britain wants to allow the cultivation of plants modified by mutagenesis

Athens 9.84, 29 September 2021

UK Relaxes Regulation on Gene-Edited Crops Despite Public Opposition

The Epoch Times, 29 September

GM crops get green light

Mail Online, 29 September 2021

UK wants to grow ‘genetically edited plants’

BFM Business, 29 September 2021 (translation into English available on some browsers)

After Brexit, UK relaxes rules on gene-edited crops

France 24, 29 September 2021 (translation into English available on some browsers)

Also published on Swiss Info in a number of languages: https://www.swissinfo.ch/por/no-p%C3%B3s-brexit–reino-unido-flexibiliza-normas-para-edi%C3%A7%C3%A3o-gen%C3%A9tica-de-cultivos/46988890

Brexit paves the way for gene-edited crops

BBC Science and Environment, 29 September 2021

Ministers pave way for gene-edited crops in England

Farmers Weekly, 29 September, 2021

UK to loosen rules on research into gene-edited crops

Financial Times, 29 September 2021

Genetically modified food a step closer in England as laws relaxed

The Guardian, 29 September 2021

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses GM deregulation plans

BBC News TV channel, 29 September 2021 (approximately 4.45pm). Unfortunately broadcast recordings are not available for this channel.

Rule changes announced to make developing ‘gene edited’ crops easier

The Irish News, 29 September 2021

Do We Fully Understand the Implications of GMOs?

Environmental blogger Monica Piccinni, 16 September 2021

GM Freeze Director discusses Regulatory Horizons Council’s report promoting GM deregulation

Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 6 September 2021 (from 4min 20sec, available until 5 October 2021)

First gene edited ‘cancer-cutting’ wheat trials get the go ahead in UK

Euroactive, 2 September 2021

NFU warns of trade impact risk from rapid gene editing move

Farmers Weekly, 18 March 2021

Regulation of genetically engineered foods due to change

Ethical Consumer, 9 March 2021

GM Freeze Director on plans to deregulate gene editing

Farming Today This Week, 6 March 2021 (part of package beginning at 6mins, available until 4 April)

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses gene editing of animals

Breakfast Show, Voice of Islam – 1 February 2021 (from 41minutes, related discussion starts from 29minutes)

Gene-editing advocates ignore history at their peril

Research Professional News, 27 January 2021

Citizens called for views on gene editing

Wicked Leeks, 22 January 2021

Gene editing – head to head debate

RT UK (Russia Today), 8 January 2021 – recording shared on youtube

UK Feed and pig industry welcomes UK consultation on gene editing

Feed Navigator, 7 January 2021

England launches plan to ease crop gene editing regulation post-Brexit

Reuters, 7 January 2021

New GM crops aren’t just ‘Frankenstein food’ says minister (no link available)

Daily Mail – print edition, 7 January 2021 (not available online)

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses Defra’s consultation on deregulating gene editing

Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 7 January 2021 (from 8mins, available until 5 February)

Genome Editing – Sensible fail safes and regulatory safeguards

Organic Farmers & Growers Newsletter, December 2020

Don’t miss the chance to have your say on risky new GMOs

Ethical Consumer, Nov/Dec 2020.
Ethical Consumer is a subscription magazine but our news story can be seen via the preview facility for this issue

GM crops: The Greenpeace activists who risked jail to destroy a field of maize

BBC News online – Norfolk, 20 September 2020

“Super-sires” DNA breakthrough will see elite cows and chickens grow bigger

The Telegraph, 14 September 2020

Liz O’Neill discusses genome editing (extended excerpts)

Farming Today This Week, 1 August 2020 (from 8mins, available until 30 August)

UK gene editing amendment withdrawn, but government commits to consultation

Euroactive, 29 July 2020

GM Freeze Director discusses genome editing

Farming Today, 29 July 2020 (from 4mins, available until 27 August)

UK campaigners oppose plans to deregulate genome editing

Feed Navigator, 28 July 2020

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses GM in our food

Fever FM, 22 July 2020 (from 26mins, available until 19 August.)

Also available at https://www.radioasianfever.com/podcasts (scroll down to GM Freeze logo)

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses plans to de-regulate gene editing

Farming Matters, BBC Radio Ulster, 16 June 2020 (from 19mins, available until 16 July 2020)

Gene editing amendment sparks deregulation fears

Wicked Leeks, 10 June 2020

Plans to deregulate gene editing in the UK

Farmers Weekly podcast, episode 9, 29 May 2020 (from 9mins) NB this piece strongly promotes gene editing.

UK farmers group backs call for allowing access to gene editing technology

Euroactive, 28 May 2020

GM Freeze Director challenges plan to let Ministers decide what counts as GM

Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 22 May 2020 (6mins 25secs into the programme, available until 20 June)

The “dating site” for Environmental Organisations Takes Manchester

Playing the Underdog, 12 December 2019

UK faced with EU-US biotechnology dilemma post-Brexit

Euroactive, 28 November 2019

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill debates GM

Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 21 September 2019 (available until 20 October)

GM Freeze Director discusses GM, Brexit and regulation

BBC Breakfast, BBC One, 21 August 2019 (23 mins, 1h 22mins and 2h 56mins into the programme, only available to view until 9.15am on 22 August).

Also featured on BBC News channel at approximately 9.30am on 21 August 2019 but this is not available to watch online.

Brexit and GM Foods – what’s really going to happen?

TruePublica, 13 August 2019 (taken from our Briefing).

GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill discusses Boris Johnson’s desire to “liberate” us from GM regulations

BBC Radio 5 Live, Breakfast, 26 July 2019 ( 37mins and 30secs into the programme, available until 24 August)