§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether current research into genetically modified trees for pulp production is also examining 126WA the risks of such trees reproducing themselves in uncontrolled ways and affecting non-genetically modified stocks. [HL4654]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)The outcome of research to assess the value of GM trees genetically modified for lower lignin content to aid pulp production has recently been reported.
Some of the poplar trees used were grown in the UK. Two consents were issued to Zeneca (now Syngenta) in April 1995 and December 1996 respectively to grow genetically modified poplar trees in Zeneca's premises in Berkshire. The research work was licensed and subject to the strict regulations controlling the deliberate release of GMOs. The trees were derived from a female clone and incapable of producing pollen, so there was no risk of interaction with other trees. The trees in the trial were also maintained in a juvenile state and therefore not permitted to flower.
Both trials were terminated in July 1999 following an attack by vandals. After felling, the stumps of the trees were treated with a proprietary systemic herbicide and removed in March 2000. The plots have been monitored regularly by Zeneca for poplar volunteers and none has been detected.