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First posted:
1 August 2008
Updated: 14 August 2008, based on information from
(1)
Tree species
being manipulated:
- Elm (Ulmus procera)
- poplar (field trial not yet approved)
Aim
of genetic manipulation
- resistance to Dutch
Elm Disease
- reduced lignin in poplars for the production of ethanol
Those carrying
out the research:
- Abertay University,
Dundee (elm)
- University of Southampton (poplar)
Involvement
of foreign research partners
- The Southampton
University researchers involved in GE poplars are carrying out the
research with academics from France and Belgium and are seeking locations
in Britain and Belgium for field trials (1)
Those who
provide support to research:
- Forestry Commission
(funding for GE elm research)
- Department of Plant Sciences, Oxford University
- According to a press article (1) Joan Ruddock, the Environment Minister,
appears to endorse new GM trees trials
Past
research:
- Shell Research
Ltd at Sittingbourne and West Malling, both in Kent on herbicide resistance
(eucalyptus). The experiment is now over.
- Biotech firm Astra Zeneca at Jealotts Hill Research Station at Bracknell,
Berks (poplar for producing whiter paper and with faster growth).
The field trial was destroyed by protesters in 1999.
Regulatory
framework for research and field trials:
- Applications for
field trials need the approval of the Department of Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra), which includes a period where the public
can provide arguments against the approval of the field trial.
Field trials:
- The elm field trial
is being carried out in "a controlled environment" “somewhere
in Dundee”. The scientists developing them fear "terrorism"
by protesters and will not disclose precisely where they are or give
details of the numbers.
- The Southampton team have submitted an application with the Forestry
Commission to use one of the UK sites run by its research agency,
Forest Research. No decision has been yet taken by the Forestry Commission
on whether it agrees to host it on their land if the field trial is
approved by Defra
Organizations
opposing GE trees:
Biofuelwatch
Carbon Trade Watch
FERN
African Conservation Foundation
Down to Earth
Forest Peoples Programme
Friends of the Earth (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
GM Freeze
GM-Free Dorset Campaign
Muslim Aid
The Corner House
Transnational Institute
Women's Environmental Network
World Development Movement
Worldforests
Actions by
unidentified actors:
- Astra Zeneca’s
GE poplars were destroyed by protesters in 1999
Sources:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/
gm-trees-are-being-grown-secretly-in-uk-476219.html
http://www.infogm.org/spip.php?article2721&decoupe_recherche=arbres
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_elm_disease
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010828/ai_n14418918
(1) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/08/09/eatrees109.xml
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/11/gmcrops.biofuels
