JIC Position Statement on Genetic Modification

Introduction

The founding organisations of the present day John Innes Centre (JIC) were the John Innes Horticultural Institute and the Plant Breeding Institute, established in 1910 and 1912, respectively.

The first Director of the John Innes Horticultural Institute was Professor William Bateson one of the first plant geneticists. His contemporary at the Plant breeding Institute was Professor Roland Biffen, who is recognised as one of the first scientific plant breeders. Both men built their careers, and new research centres, on the, then, new science of genetics. Consequently, the JIC has a long and distinguished history in plant and microbial genetics.

JIC recognises the past and present benefits that have accrued to society through selection, generation and exploitation of modified genetic strains of plants and microbes. JIC has a unique historical perspective on genetic research and its application to horticulture and agriculture. In the past the founding organisations of the present JIC were involved in the production of new crop varieties, they developed new techniques and experienced at firsthand the benefits of a genetic approach to plant improvement. They also played a key role in the development of modern GM technology, not only in the development of gene transfer techniques but also in the early experiments exploring the behaviour of genetically modified plants in the glasshouse and small-scale field trials. Thus JIC has been, and remains, at the cutting-edge of genetic and GM research.

It is against the historic perspective and the present state of scientific knowledge, that JIC has formulated its present position on GM technology.

Statement

The mission of the John Innes Centre is to enhance scientific knowledge, the quality of life and economic well being, primarily by contributing to the knowledge base through excellent scientific research and training of scientists. The pursuit of this mission is the driving force behind all of JIC's research activities. It also informs JIC's position on genetic modification technology.

This statement describes JIC's position on the role and value of GM technology in general.

JIC does not have a remit to produce new crops, foods or medicines but makes extensive use of GM technology, as one scientific research tool among many, in carrying out its mission and in particular in understanding and exploiting the biology of plants and microbes. The use of GM as a research tool does not necessarily mean that the knowledge generated has to be applied through GM technology. Indeed the GM technologies used at JIC are supplying knowledge and know-how that has many potential outlets and applications.

The JIC recognises the past and present benefits that have accrued to society through selection, generation and exploitation of modified genetic strains of plants and microbes.

JIC expects, based on its unique historic perspective and the present state of scientific knowledge, that appropriate application of genetic modification has the potential to provide significant benefit to society in many areas of the life sciences.

The JIC recognises the current concern in sections of society over some new technologies. In particular we note the questions raised with regard to human and environmental safety and the moral and ethical acceptability of GM technologies. The latter are important and valid issues. Individual scientists have at least as great a sense of what is moral and ethical as any other member of society. However, ethics and morality are not easily addressed from a scientific basis. In this discussion, as with any other, protagonists claim to be motivated by the strongest and purest of moral and ethical views, while remaining diametrically opposed to one another. Thus the question of acceptability must be one for the broadest possible cross section of society to resolve and is a debate in which scientists should actively participate.

The JIC is unable to identify any scientific issues associated with GM technology that are not already present as issues when using other means to genetically alter the performance of plants and microbes. Thus, questions of human and environmental safety should relate to the products of GM, rather than the process. JIC recognises the strategy of some opponents of the technology who seek to create a single issue called GM crops. This is unhelpful to a proper discussion as there is no evidence that GM technology itself constitutes a significant additional hazard. GM crops cannot be reduced to a single issue with regard to safety, as it is the individual applications for, and products of, the technology that are significant with regard to safety.

The JIC acknowledges that the question of GM safety is currently addressed by an extensive regulatory framework, backed by years of careful testing of the technology and its products. JIC strongly supports the principal of labelling the products of GM technology, to agreed standards, as a means to provide consumers with choice.

JIC rejects the campaigning position of some pressure groups that genomic and related technologies some how replace, or eliminate the need for, GM technology. This is clearly based on a failure to understand that GM technology underpins and informs genomic research programmes, and indeed many other science areas. The knowledge, know-how and genes that are the products of genome research can be applied through a range of different technologies, including GM.