Biotech Updates

DEFRA Approves Second Site for GM Potato Trial

May 18, 2007

The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of the United Kingdom has approved the second site, located in East Yorkshire, for the GM potato field trials. The other approved site is in Cambridge. The Advisory Committee of Releases to the Environment (ACRE), who evaluated the site, said that the trials that will be done will not have adverse effects to human health or the environment.

 The GM potato is said to be resistant to late potato blight, a significant disease problem for UK potato growers. The field trials will find out the effectiveness of the potato’s resistance to pathotypes of the disease present in the United Kingdom.

Read the article at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/pdf/07-r42-01.pdf