GM Science Review: Background

Invitation to contribute - text of letter from Professor David King

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29 November 2002

Dear Colleague,

GM SCIENCE REVIEW: INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE

Genetic modification raises issues of significant public interest, and earlier in the year the Government in the UK announced that it would promote a public debate on these issues against the background of the possible commercial production of GM crops in the UK.

One of the three components of this debate is a review of the science of GM ¹. In my capacity of chief scientific adviser to HM Government, I have accepted the role of leading this open review, together with Professor Dalton, the chief scientific adviser to DEFRA ², with independent advice from the Food Standards Agency.

The GM science issues that interest and concern the public, and the scientific community, must drive the science review. So, whilst the work will focus on GM crops, I do not wish to constrain consideration of relevant issues, if they are of significant interest to the UK public.

The aim of the review is to air the scientific issues and for a panel, which I will chair, to summarise the current state of scientific knowledge, identifying the consensus, what the uncertainties are, how these might be reduced, and where there are gaps in knowledge, so as to inform both Government and the public. I want the key source for this work to be contributions from the scientific community. I want you to ask the questions, present your evidence-based views and provide answers wherever possible. This review presents the scientific community with a challenge and I want to stimulate a response from you.

As well as tapping into familiar expertise, I want to reach out to the wider scientific community and tap into fresh sources of knowledge that might offer new perspectives on the GM issues. Many issues are broader than GM. For example, studies on plants on the relationship between cross pollination frequency and distance pre-date the arrival of genetically modified crops, yet now have a peculiarly important bearing on how different forms of agriculture (conventional, GM and organic) might co-exist in future.

And what can science say about public concern over possible unanticipated long term effects of GM?

I urge you to visit the dedicated website [www.gmsciencedebate.org.uk] which provides further information on how you might contribute. The website also provides the principal medium by which we want to communicate on this science and look at the evidence. Science of course, has no geographical boundaries so please don't feel inhibited simply because you live or work outside the UK. Of course we want and need the views of experienced scientists. But I also want to hear what young, bright scientific minds have to say.

Contributions do not need to be peer-reviewed but should address the science. They should be reasonably argued and be evidence-based - either directly or by reference to identified and publicly available material.

There has been a great deal of discussion recently about the need for the scientific world to engage positively with the wider public, so that the public can appreciate what science can do for them - and what its limitations are, and so that scientists in turn can appreciate the interests and wishes of the society in which we do our work.

I believe this will be an exciting venture that responds to this need and expands understanding of GM issues. It should enable us to take a really comprehensive and open look at the science relevant to GM - but only if the science community is willing to take part.

Please give it serious thought. I look forward to reading your contribution.

Signed:

Professor David King

1 The other strands are a public debate and economics study. The public debate is an innovative programme, with the issues for the debate being framed by the public. It is being run by an independent steering board at arms length from the government. The economics study, being carried out by the Prime Ministers Strategy Unit will analyse the nature and distribution of costs and benefits for the UK commercialisation of GM crops.

2 DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs