Written question asked by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru) on Monday, 3 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 November 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 13 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measurements of GM crop yield were made during the recently completed Farm Scale Evaluation research programme to assess the commercial viability of the herbicide regimes adopted. - (Holding answer 6 November 2003).

Answer: Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measurements of GM crop yield were made during the recently completed Farm Scale Evaluation research programme to assess the commercial viability of the herbicide regimes adopted. [136806] Mr. Morley :[holding answer 6 November 2003]: The FSE research team measured surrogates of crop yield rather than yield directly. In particular these included repeated measurements of crop development for both the GM and non-GM crops. The data show little difference between the GM and non-GM. For further details see Champion et al. (2003) "Crop management and agronomic context of the Farm Scale Evaluations of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (B). 358 (1439): 1801-1818. A copy of this journal has been placed in the Library. The FSE research team compared the crop development with the audited management practices and concluded that the trials of the GM crops in the FSE were consistent with cost effective weed control. The scientific probity of this conclusion was independently verified by the publishing journal and endorsed by the scientific steering committee who advised Ministers accordingly.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 136806; 413 c412W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Crops Genetically modified organisms Pesticides Research Weedkillers
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk