The Sainsbury Laboratory submits application to DEFRA for approval to carry out a field trial on GM potatoes

The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) has applied to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for permission to carry out a field trial on genetically modified potatoes on the Norwich Research Park between 2017 and 2020.

The trial will test the effectiveness of late blight resistance genes in Maris Piper potatoes. These genes have been introduced individually or combined as a gene stack. Results from this trial will contribute to TSL’s Potato Partnership project. This research has been funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

The application will be assessed by an independent expert group, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), who will evaluate the application during a 90-day process, which includes a public consultation.

In accordance with the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulation 2002, The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs invites representations on any risks of damage to the environment posed by the release. All representations should be received by 22 March 2016 and sent either:

by post to The GM Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Area 1C, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, stating the application reference number 17/R29/01

Or

by email to gm-regulation@defra.gsi.gov.uk (please include the application reference number 17/R29/01 in the e-mail title)

Links:

The application to Defra:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/genetically-modified-organisms-sainsbury-laboratory-17r2901

Funding approved to develop new potato at The Sainsbury Laboratory

http://www.tsl.ac.uk/news/new-potato-at-the-sainsbury-laboratory/