GM Potato Blight trials to go ahead.

[alan refail]

I won't deny you the pleasure of correcting me at every turn Alan, if it amuses you,

Far from amusing me, it saddens me to see "big figures" masquerading as arguments. See my earlier thread Facts? Who needs facts?.

I merely pointed out the most inaccurate of your contentions. I could also have queried these:

In the case of GM seed they don't come true and are often sterile does the same apply to GM potatoes?

is it not a bit dangerous to have just one company with complete control madly patenting all they can get their hands on

However only one company having control of development in this direction concerns me.

All of which are wrong.

[Geoff]

The trouble with our modern preoccupation with complete freedom of speech is we get plagued by these people with their mouth parts in their trousers. Often it is just an irritation but too often the exposure is so great you get things like the MMR / autism scandal that dripped into the public mind to the point that it killed and damaged children. A similar situation is developing with GM such that however good a project or a product is it will not be accepted as the public perception has been poisoned by exposure to these campaigning half wits.

[alan refail]

Protest going ahead tomorrow.

http://www.stopgm.org.uk/gathering-momentum.html

Full of the usual muddled logic and inaccurate "facts"! One example:

Meanwhile, 3 years ago a small Welsh research charity dedicated to conventional breeding techniques developed a spud that is spectacularly resistant to blight. Not only does the crop pose no threat to health, the environment, or neighbouring farmers; it works. Over 6 different varieties are now available, and being grown on a commercial scale.

[Johnboy]

Hi Alan,

Meanwhile, 3 years ago a small Welsh research charity dedicated to conventional breeding techniques developed a spud that is spectacularly resistant to blight. Not only does the crop pose no threat to health, the environment, or neighbouring farmers; it works. Over 6 different varieties are now available, and being grown on a commercial scale.

As you say Alan the website is as usual full of total inaccuracies
and the quote above is total rubbish and I call upon those responsible for writing it to substantiate what they have written!
JB.

[alan refail]

So much for discussion and debate!

http://www.tsl.ac.uk/pdfs/GMevent.pdf

Scientists from The Sainsbury Laboratory conducting a research trial of blight-resistant GM potatoes invited anti-GM campaigners planning a “photo shoot” in Norwich to take part in a debate. The invitation has been declined and instead campaigners plan to “deliver” some potatoes to the John Innes Centre, beside the TSL site, and to hold a “rally”.

http://www.tsl.ac.uk/

[alan refail]

A well presented article from Jonathan Jones at the Sainsbury laboratory.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... /gm-debate

[Shallot Man]

Hi alan. Do the Welsh research establishment sell to the public, if so, do you have their e-mail. thank you

[alan refail]

Hi alan. Do the Welsh research establishment sell to the public, if so, do you have their e-mail. thank you

http://www.sarvari-trust.org/

[Shallot Man]

Many thanks Alan

[John Walker]

Do the Welsh research establishment sell to the public?

Although there is plenty of interesting information on their website about their non-GM potato varieties, the Sarvari Research Trust do not sell direct to gardeners, but the Sarpo varieties are available (by mail order and via some garden centres) from Thompson & Morgan:

http://search.thompson-morgan.com/search?w=sarpo
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetabl ... s/maincrop
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetabl ... /zww5386TM

The Sarpo-bred varieties with notable resistance to blight are:

Blue Danube
Kifli
Sarpo Axona
Sarpo Mira
Sarpo Una
Shona

[Johnboy]

Hi John,
Where can the Sarpo varieties be bought for a commercial venture?
JB.

[alan refail]

Hi John,
Where can the Sarpo varieties be bought for a commercial venture?
JB.

And another question: where can these varieties be bought retail?

I ask this because of the deliberately misleading "propaganda" put out by Stop GM

http://www.stopgm.org.uk/gathering-momentum.html

Meanwhile, 3 years ago a small Welsh research charity dedicated to conventional breeding techniques developed a spud that is spectacularly resistant to blight. Not only does the crop pose no threat to health, the environment, or neighbouring farmers; it works. Over 6 different varieties are now available, and being grown on a commercial scale.

[peter]

Allan, JW already answered that, T&M, unless you're after the Sainsbury Institute trial ones!

[Johnboy]

Hi Peter,
I promised David Shaw last year that I would grow some Sarpo varieties this year but due to circumstances beyond my control I have not been able to keep this promise.
Now having the ground available to carry out such a scheme but I am afraid at T&M prices it would not be a commercial proposition. This would be a serious crop and they would be marketed properly. They would not be organic (because I an not and do not intend to become organic) but grown without any pesticides like most of my other crops.
JB.

[alan refail]

Allan, JW already answered that, T&M, unless you're after the Sainsbury Institute trial ones!

Sorry, Peter, I meant retail as in going to a shop/supermarket and buying a bag to cook. John Walker didn't answer that one.