Sub Groups

INFORMAL MEETING WITH WOMEN'S INSTITUTE, WOMEN'S FOOD AND FARMING UNION AND LOCAL COUNCILS ON 7 FEBRUARY 2001

Six members of the sub-group - Dave Carmichael, Phil Dale, Robin Grove-White, Rosie Hails, Jeff Maxwell and Justine Thornton -met with a group of local WI, WFFU and council representatives for informal discussion on 7 February. Judith Harris from the secretariat was also present.

Some of the WI representatives had also been present at one or both of the Commission's public sessions in Norwich on 5/6 February.

A summary of the main points made by visitors and group members in the discussion on 7 February is given below.

Views on GM and FSEs

WI representatives explained that the organisation was in favour of the FSEs but not full commercialisation of GM crops. This policy had been developed in discussion at all levels of the organisation and confirmed by adoption of a national resolution last year.

Those who were pro and anti GM crops were equally biased. There was a need to find a middle way.

Past mistakes (eg BSE, thalidomide) should not prevent people having an open mind about future developments. There were, however, concerns about the unknown and a need to protect future generations. Also a fear that any controls imposed would not be properly monitored or enforced (BSE and asbestos were cited as examples where enforcement rather than the controls themselves had been found wanting).

The public felt overawed by science but was no longer in awe of scientists.

Scientists were reluctant to speak categorically and inclined to change their views over time. Something that was pronounced certain might become much less so in (say) ten years.

People did not like the FSEs because they felt they were being 'foisted' on them without consultation. There was concern that they might be harmful and people wanted more information.

How should people get information and what more did they want to know?

Information should be passed via informed groups such as WI or local councils. Council newsletters and local newspapers were generally more trusted than eg leaflet drops or the national media.

Public meetings were not necessarily the best way forward. Many people were unable to go or simply not interested in attending.

Science Year 2001 should be used - information directed at 12-18 year age group with a combination of use of theatre groups.

Council members could also feel 'bamboozled' by science. There was for example an implied association in many people's minds between GM and cloning and an uncertainty as to precisely what was meant by 'organic'. Economic issues were also important. How real were the threats that research/industry would move abroad?

More information on the 'infection' of weeds by GM crops was required.

The history of GM crops

GM crops had been around for some time- since the 1980s. The first field trial was in 1987 and small controlled releases had been monitored by field experiments since the 1990s.

The GM 'revolution' might be difficult to reverse on a global level. 44 million hectares of GM crops were grown world wide in the year 2000.

AEBC

Most of those present from WI, WFFU and the local councils had only heard of AEBC when invited to this meeting. It should make itself better known. What was its status in relation to Government, how had members been selected and who had appointed them? AEBC secretariat February 2001