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Approved-By:  ingrid northwood <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:         Tue, 28 Sep 1999 17:39:11 PDT
Reply-To: ingrid northwood <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Biotech Forum <[log in to unmask]>
From: ingrid northwood <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      MONSANTO HINTS AT U-TURN ON GM FOOD IN BRITAIN - The
              Observer(London)  (fwd)
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Posted by Ingrid


Subject: MONSANTO HINTS AT U-TURN ON GM FOOD IN BRITAIN - The Observer(London)


The Observer (London)                   Sunday September 26, 1999

MONSANTO HINTS AT U-TURN ON GM FOOD IN BRITAIN

        By Oliver Morgan

        Monsanto, the US biotech corporation, has indicated that it is
considering a major climbdown over genetically modified food in
Britain. It has offered to use its vast gene databases to help plant
breeders create new varieties of crops using traditional cross-
breeding techniques.
        The aim is to exploit biologists' newly obtained knowledge of
plant DNA while avoiding the highly controversial use of genetic
modification which has embroiled the industry, and in particular
Monsanto, in widespread protests over the planting of GM crops.
The company believes that by combining old plant-breeding
techniques with modern biological knowledge it can defuse the
surge of 'bio-angst' now sweeping Europe.
        The idea was put forward this month by senior Monsanto
executives at a series of secret meetings with environmental groups.
At one session with the Soil Association, Monsanto president
Hendrik Verfaillie presented the alternative use for the company's
genetic expertise, and asked if this would satisfy environmental and
consumer concerns.
        Environmentalists say the move is a significant change in policy
for the company based in St Louis, Missouri. Up to now it has been
the strongest advocate of GM agriculture and food science in
Britain, mounting a vigorous campaign in favour of the technology.
        The new technique centres on exploiting 'genomics' - the ability
to map out the genetic make up of organisms. Instead of splicing
genes, genetic profiles of hundreds of different varieties within a
species of plant - such as corn - would be fed into a computer.
        Farmers could then go to companies like Monsanto, tell them
what soil type, pests and other environmental problems they faced,
and scientists could use the database to cross-breed varieties to
meet the problems and provide seeds.
        Cross-breeding has been accepted practice by farmers for
decades, but was commercially impractical because without detailed
genetic information it has been a process of trial and error.
        Patrick Holden of the Soil Association said: 'What was said has
huge significance. It shows that Monsanto is thinking about
reversing their whole strategy. We believe Monsanto is open to a
full rethink of what it is doing.'

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