Press releases

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Genetic engineering needs the safety net of robust regulation GM Freeze responds to Defra plans for a high-tech free-for-all

Comment (29 Sep 2021)

Responding to the announcement that Environment Secretary George Eustice intends to push ahead with plans to remove new GM techniques (often referred to as gene editing) from the scope of GMO regulations, Liz O’Neill, Director of umbrella group GM Freeze …
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Burnt-toast GM wheat gets go-ahead Risky experimental crop to be released in an open field trial

Comment (27 Aug 2021)

Commenting on news that the Government has given the go-ahead to an open field trial of GM “low acrylamide” wheat at Rothamsted Research, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: It’s hard to understand the thinking that leads GM developers to …
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Gene editing consultation pushes Government plan to remove vital safeguards Instead of working with people to understand their concerns, Defra is pushing a high-tech, quick-fix agenda

Comment (7 Jan 2021)

Responding to Environment Minister George Eustice’s speech launching a Defra consultation on plans to de-regulate gene editing, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: People have many concerns about the use of genetic engineering in food and farming so public engagement …
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“Surrogate sires” are just media hype to improve the image of GMOs

Comment (15 Sep 2020)

Commenting on news that scientists from Edinburgh and the United States are using new GMO to develop an alternative to highly successful artificial insemination programmes, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: This is yet another “proof of concept” study being …
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GM groups call on the public: Ask Ministers to reject plans to deregulate genome editing

Immediate release (2 Jul 2020)

Three of the UK’s largest GM campaigns – GM Freeze, Beyond GM and GMWatch – have joined together to oppose an amendment to the Agriculture Bill that would give the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs …
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Changing GMO definition would remove vital safeguards Plans to amend the Agriculture Bill would hand ministers power to deregulate genome editing

Comment (28 May 2020)

It has come to light that a group of MPs, backed by industry lobby groups, plans to table an amendment to the Agriculture Bill paving the way for ministers to alter the definition of a GMO in UK law. The …
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GM regulations are essential safeguards New PM misses the mark on GM in food and farming

Comment (26 Jul 2019)

Commenting on Boris Johnson’s view that we need to be “liberated” from GM regulations, GM Freeze Director Liz O’Neill said: If we need to be liberated from anything, it’s the idea that technology can provide quick fixes for all of …
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Gene silencing plans make objectors shout louder Plans for new GM crop trial raise objections from leading environmental and farming organisations

Immediate release (16 Apr 2019)

Thirty-one organisations including some of the UK’s biggest environmental organisations, farmers, scientists, seed distributors and retailers lodged a formal objection today to The Sainsbury Laboratory’s plans for a new open-air field trial of GM potatoes on farms in Suffolk and …
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Pick-and-mix GM crop plans are playing games with regulations Plans for new GM crop trials raise objections from leading environmental and farming organisations

Immediate release (21 Mar 2019)

Thirty-five organisations including some of the UK’s biggest environmental organisations, farmers, scientists, seed distributors and retailers yesterday lodged a formal objection to plans for a new open-air field trial of GM camelina plants at Rothamsted Research’s farms in Hertfordshire and …
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High iron doughnuts and promiscuous brassicas prompt objections to proposed GM field trials

Immediate release (26 Feb 2019)

Thirty-three organisations including farmers, researchers, seed distributors, retailers and environmentalists today lodged formal objections to proposed open-air field trials of biofortified GM wheat and genome edited brassica in Norfolk. Disputing health claims made by researchers at the John Innes Centre …
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New petition launched to protect GM food labels

Immediate release (2 Oct 2018)

A new petition, aiming to protect consumers’ right to make an informed choice about their food choices, was launched online this week. Presented jointly by campaign groups GM Freeze and Beyond GM , the Don’t Hide What’s Inside petition calls …
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Campaign groups demand action as Rothamsted Research GM field trial is ruled unlawful GM Freeze and GeneWatch UK write to Michael Gove following key ECJ ruling

Immediate release (25 Jul 2018)

GM Freeze and GeneWatch UK have today written to Environment Secretary Michael Gove, to demand the immediate halt of an unlawful  trial of gene edited plants at Rothamsted Research (1). The trial of genetically modified (GM) Camelina sativa, includes some …
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ECJ rules in favour of tough regulation for new GM techniques

Comment (25 Jul 2018)

UK umbrella campaign GM Freeze today welcomed a European Court of Justice (ECJ) decision to ensure proper regulation of controversial new genetic engineering techniques. Supporting the position taken by environmental campaigners, the judgement states that organisms obtained by mutagenesis are …
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DEFRA issues a free pass on new GM technique Crop created using CRISPR genome editing techniques to be planted without a full risk assessment

Comment (22 May 2018)

DEFRA has given Rothamsted Research consent to plant a new open air field trial of GM camelina plants, including two lines produced using new CRISPR genome editing techniques. The trial application did not include a risk assessment for the CRISPR plants …
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Proposed GM trial presents new risk to people and wildlife Plants produce wax esters which can cause oily anal discharge if eaten

Immediate release (28 Mar 2018)

Twenty-six organisations including farmers, scientists, retailers and environmentalists today lodged a formal objection to the latest proposed open-air GM field trial by Rothamsted Research. If granted consent by Defra, the trial will see genetically modified camelina plants grown in open …
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Brexit and GM Twin campaigns launched to safeguard our food and our farms

Immediate release (8 Mar 2018)

GM Freeze, the UK’s umbrella campaign on genetic modification (GM) in food and farming, today launched twin campaigns aiming to protect key safeguards as the UK prepares to leave the European Union (EU). Focused on issues around growing and importing …
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Why are NGOs sceptical of genome editing? New peer reviewed report finds that NGO opposition to agricultural biotechnology cannot be dismissed as being emotional or dogmatic

Immediate release (6 Nov 2017)

‘Genome editing is not the answer to world poverty, because food shortage isn’t the problem’ says a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) surveyed by the University of Nottingham. This is one of three main findings in a report from the …
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Evolution gives insect pests the upper hand Study confirms that pest insects are evolving resistance to GM Bt crops

Breaking News (10 Oct 2017)

A new study published today in the journal Nature Biotechnology has confirmed a huge increase in the number of pest insects that have evolved resistance to the GM Bt crops engineered to kill them. Researchers at the University of Arizona showed …
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Make Brexit mean Better for our food and our farms GM campaign group releases General Election manifesto to protect key safeguards after UK leaves European Union

Immediate release (18 May 2017)

Regulation, labelling and compensation for farmers subjected to GM contamination are all included in a General Election manifesto published today by GM Freeze, the UK umbrella campaign on genetically modified food, crops and patents. Most UK regulation around food and …
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Defra overrides public concern to write regulatory blank cheque for untested GM

Immediate release (8 May 2017)

Despite 119 public representations raising a wide range of concerns, Farming Minster George Eustice quietly gave consent [1] on 27 April to a controversial open air field trial of GM potatoes that have not been tested under controlled conditions. The …
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