Gene-editing and on-farm trials survey

Your views are important

Please complete this survey on gene-editing research and on-farm trials and if you wish to get in touch, or would like results, please email me tom@wickleshamlodge.com or complete your details below.

I will feed the results and any comments received back to the Defra Secretary of State's office and also to those involved in the Gene-Editing for Environmental and Crop Improvement initiative.

I really look forward to receiving your views as it's important these are heard by all those involved in applied research and regulation of crop technologies.

Thank you

Tom Allen-Stevens

Question Title

* 1. Have you ever hosted or undertaken any of the following on-farm trials before? (Please tick all that apply)

SCIMAC field-scale evaluations of genetically modified (GM) crops

Any other GM-crop trials

In-field research trials for ADAS/Rothamsted Research/other research institute undertaken primarily for research purposes

Demonstration plots for open days, etc (eg varieties, fungicides)

Small-plot trials for breeder/ag-chem co/distributor NOT as part of an open day/demo and for commercial/approval purposes

Split field/tramline trials as part of a farmer-led network (eg YEN, Real Results, Judge for Yourself, Innovative Farmers, AHDB Monitor Farm)

Your own split-field/tramline trials for own business use

I have not hosted/undertaken on-farm trials, but I would if I was asked

I would not consider hosting/undertaking on-farm trials

Question Title

* 2. Have you ever been part of one of the following farmer-led agronomy networks? (Please tick all that apply)

Yield Enhancement Network (YEN)

AHDB Monitor/Strategic Farm network (including regular attendee of meetings with in-field involvement)

Bayer Judge for Yourself

BASF Real Results

Innovative Farmers

I have only been involved in business/benchmarking groups with no in-field involvement

I would not like to be part of one of these networks

Other farmer-led agronomy network (please specify)

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* 3. Would you consider hosting on-farm trials of new breeding technologies (NBTs)? (please tick all that apply)

I would be happy to host GM trials

I would be happy to host gene-edited (GE) trials

I would only host GM or GE trials if my location was not disclosed

I would only host GM or GE trials if they didn't have to be fenced or monitored for years afterwards

I would not like to host NBT on-farm trials

I don’t know enough about NBTs to provide an informed response

Please add a comment - use these boxes to provide additional information you feel is important

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* 4. Would you be interested in conducting in-field/tramline trials, working with a scientist/researcher? (please tick all that apply)

Yes, to investigate a management practice I’m keen to look into

Yes, to field test pre-commercial new ideas and novel technologies

Yes, as part of a two-way knowledge exchange with scientists to further innovation on farms

No, I’m not interested

No, the farm is no place for a scientist

I don’t know enough about this to provide an informed answer

Please add a comment

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* 5. There is a suggestion that an ELM (Environmental Land Management) contract should be piloted that would pay farmers public money for conducting on-farm trials and sharing the results. How do you feel about this?

I really support the idea and would apply to join the pilot

I support the idea and if the pilot was successful and became a proper ELM, I’d apply to join

I support the idea, but would not apply to join

This would not be a good use of taxpayers’ money

I’m not bothered

I don’t know enough about this to provide an informed answer

Please add a comment

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* 6. The Court of Justice of the EU recently ruled that NBTs, including GE crops, should be subject to GMO regulations. This means planting of these crops is monitored and subject to licensing, in the same way as GM crops are currently. Which of the following best describes how you feel about this?

The UK should diverge from EU regulations post Brexit and treat NBTs as conventional crops if the changes to their DNA could have occurred naturally

I do not agree with this ruling, but the UK should remain aligned to EU regulations

I agree with this ruling – NBTs should be treated as GMOs

I’m not really bothered

I don’t know enough about NBTs to provide an informed response

Please add a comment

Question Title

* 7. The UK is one of the world’s leading research authorities in plant-based sciences. There is public as well as private-funded research in both GM and GE crops carried out in UK research institutes. Some of the work is in developing crops primarily for overseas markets. Which of the following best describes how you feel about this?

All UK plant-based research should be encouraged, and UK farms should be involved in this research

All UK plant-based research should be encouraged, although NBTs should NOT come onto UK farms

UK research institutes should only focus on non-NBT research from now on

UK research institutes should only focus on developing crops for UK farmers

I’m not really bothered

I don’t know enough about NBTs to provide an informed response

Please add a comment

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* 8. There are not currently any GE varieties, suitable for EU markets, that are close to commercialisation in the UK. But if there is a change in regulation to encourage their development, much will depend on how the public feels about this. Which of the following best describes your views on public engagement?

People don’t know enough about NBTs. We should have a science-led public engagement campaign and I will happily do my bit to help educate people about the value of new technologies in food production

I support moves for public engagement, but I don’t think farmers should be involved until NBTs are closer to commercial use – it’s best led by scientists only at this stage

There should be no public engagement until NBTs that offer real tangible benefits to consumers are commercially available

There’s no need for public engagement, but if those who stand to benefit from NBTs want to market them, it’s up to them how they do it

Public engagement on NBTs is really just a smokescreen for propaganda – any promotional messaging should be closely regulated

I’m not really bothered

I don’t know enough about NBTs to provide an informed response

Please add a comment

Question Title

* 9. Organic certification bodies, such as Soil Association and Organic Farmers and Growers, have stated that they will treat GE crops as GMOs and they will not be allowed to be used to produce food to an organic standard. Which of the following best describes your feelings on co-existence – measures to segregate GE from non-GE crops?

Such measures are unrealistic and organic certification bodies will just have to accept GE crops

If organic certification bodies believe there is a marketing advantage, they are entitled to segregate crops, but it is up to them to ensure contamination with GE crops stays below threshold.

There should be a voluntary agreement that GE-crop growers will aim to minimise any potential for contamination, such as informing organic neighbours of cropping plans and putting in buffer strips to minimise pollen transfer.

GE crops should be regulated to the same extent as GMOs.

GE crops should not be grown in the UK – growers would benefit from premium domestic and export markets if we remained GE-free

I’m not really bothered

I don’t know enough about NBTs to provide an informed response

Please add a comment

Question Title

* 10. Thank you so much for taking the time to fill in this survey.

Please provide your details if you would like to be kept informed about the Gene-Editing for Environmental and Crop Improvement Initiative.

Your details will only be used in relation to this initiative, for example to tell you about developments in field trials of new technologies that you may wish to take part in.

Your details will not be passed to third parties - survey responses will be aggregated and anonymised.

Your name

Farm name

County

Postcode

email address

mobile phone