What might be the role of GM oilseed rape?
Here one immediately thought of what role the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) at Invergowrie, Dundee might have. And, indeed, the role for GM varieties which might achieve disease resistance and higher yields much quicker than by traditional breeding methods. Yet in the drive to produce higher yields of oilseed rape, it will be necessary to monitor the amount of fertiliser used, as it may affect the overall carbon imprint of the whole process. In response to another question from the packed and keenly interested house of some 200 cereal producers and grain merchants, Jason Woods replied that as a commercial company they had to consider the needs of their customers, which were largely the supermarkets. To date they did not like GM crops because of the perceptions held by their customers, the public. But it should be remembered that some 50% of the world’s soya is GM based. The same is likely to happen to the world’s supply of oilseed rape, whether UK citizens like it or not. It
