Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission

Non-Food Agriculture Core Group Meeting

Tuesday 26 October 2004

9am – 1pm

DTI, Room 454, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET

Note

1. It was agreed that the Core Group would provide the contractors with approximately one page of information on each of the case study examples. The contractor would be asked to produce stimulus material or other material to inform participants using the case study information provided by the Core Group and the Core Group would sign this off before it was used.



2. It was agreed that it would be best if a sub-group consisting of David Buckeridge, Dave Carmichael, Rosie Hails and Julie Hill (and Justine Thornton if she is able to commit the time) could take responsibility for drafting the information on the case studies.



3. The following examples were agreed for case studies, those Members named would be responsible for the initial drafting which would then be finalised with the rest of the Core Group:



• Polylactic acid (PLA) – Dave C & Julie
• Packaging – Dave C & Julie
• Short rotation coppice willow and poplar – John Gilliland
• HIV microbicide – David B
• Building materials – Dave C
• Dental caries – Dave B
• Bioethanol – David B
• Land mines/explosive remediation – David C
• Dutch elm disease – David B


4. It was agreed that the material on case studies would be drafted under the following headings:



• Factual description
• Potential or actual role of biotechnology
• The reason why people are interested in exploring this example and what issues would need to be considered embarking upon it (covering biodiversity, land use etc.)
• Potential alternatives that could provide similar outcomes, and issues associated with these.


5. Secretariat to approach Defra to see if they could arrange an introductory statement on non-food crops which could be used as a backdrop to explain why this research was being carried out.



6. The Core Group was aiming to have the information on all the cases studies completed by the end of November.



7. Secretariat to collate information such as meeting notes, presentations, contact details and other useful evidence for the case study examples and send it to Core Group.


Background paper, wall chart and regulatory analysis


8. It was agreed that no resources were available to take forward these aspects of the workstream alongside the public engagement work. The Core Group would review the situation once the public engagement work was completed or well underway.


AOB


9. Secretariat to discuss proposed way forward with Malcolm and Julie at secretariat meeting on Thursday 28 October 2004.



10. Secretariat to update the website and email stakeholders with details of how the workstream is being taken forward.