Genetically Modified Crop Production
DWT Revised Position Statement

Dorset Wildlife Trust has updated the position statement of April 2002. The new position should be read in conjunction with the old one.

Position statement of April 2002 (download to the right)

It addresses the issues concerning the implications for wildlife of the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in crop production.

The results of field trials of Genetically Modified (GM) crops carried out from 1999-2004 are taken into account. The trials demonstrated the need for testing of individual GM crops, as results can vary between them.

Full revised position statement (download to the right)

Summary Statement

DWT does not support the cultivation of the GM herbicide tolerant (GMHT) varieties of spring-sown rape and beet tested in the recent field trials. For the maize crop tested, the results may be superceded by changes to the conventional herbicide regime, so further trials would be needed to come to a conclusion on the long-term effects.

There should be a presumption against growing other GMHT varieties unless it can be demonstrated that there would be no disbenefit to wildlife caused by the crops or the methods used to cultivate them.

The field trials did not test the cross-fertilisation of GM crop varieties with nearby wild relatives. This could be a threat to wildlife if a transferred gene gave the plant an ecological advantage.

DWT opposes the commercial cultivation of other GM varieties unless and until there is clear evidence that there would be no harm to wildlife.