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Biotech 2020
Crop Biotechnology in the World of 2020.

News Releases

The Plant Biotechnology Train Threatens to Leave the UK at the Station

30 June 2003

The world is entering a golden age of plant science, with the UK at the forefront, but without clearer government strategies, the scientific and commercial benefits for this country could be lost irreversibly. This was the main conclusion for the UK from Biotech 2020, a BCPC Forum, which brought together over 50 independent experts and senior representatives from government, research organisations, academia, international institutions, industry and commerce. The Forum was held to consider how developments in crop biotechnology science might interact with the key drivers which are already shaping the world of 2020 - global geopolitics, world food supply, European agriculture, society’s attitudes and the markets for food.

The other key conclusions reached at the Forum were:

• The increased understanding of plants over the next two decades, and beyond, will be unprecedented and will provide huge opportunities for mankind throughout the 21st century;
• Plant biotechnology could make a significant contribution to sustainable world food production. It also offers exciting new ways of using plants to capture the sun’s energy. This could provide us with renewable sources of energy and other valuable materials for society at large;
• Public acceptance and transparent regulation will be critical to the success of crop biotechnology over the next two decades. Scientists must improve their ability to communicate;
• Both the USA and China are actively embracing plant biotechnology, whereas the UK and Europe run a serious risk of loosing long-term competitiveness, despite the potential that the accession countries will bring to crop production in Europe;
• There are strong parallels between the debate on genetically modified crops and the current deliberations on whether the UK should join the Euro. Failure to take a timely decision on future strategy threatens to erode the UK’s world-class position in plant science. The UK could miss-out on this innovation as it did with the ‘electronics revolution’.

Commenting on the outcome of the Forum, Hugh Oliver-Bellasis, the President of BCPC, said: “This Forum was special for the depth and breadth of the participants it brought together, and for their collective ability to apply an objective approach to discussing the future of plant biotechnology and the world into which it must fit to be successful.

“Strategic decisions are needed very soon if we are to secure the future of a first-rate, pure and applied plant science base that will enable the UK to continue to contribute to an appropriately regulated development of the technology. We cannot delay if we want to participate successfully in future European and global biotechnology markets.

“The train has not yet left the station, but the guard is putting the whistle to his mouth and some of the doors are being slammed,” concluded Mr Oliver-Bellasis.

The release of these conclusions coincides with the publication of the BCPC Biotech 2020 Forum Report. ISBN 1 901396 33 9. Copies of this Report are available at £25 from BCPC Publications, Bear Farm, Binfield, Bracknell, Berks, RG42 5QE. Tel: +44 (0) 118 934 2727 Fax: +44 (0) 118 934 1998. Email: publications@bcpc.org. Credit cards are accepted. Secure orders can also be placed online here on the BCPC website.