Genetically modified crops: the ethical and social issues

Public consultation

In April 1998, the Working Party held a public consultation as part of its work. 118 responses were received from a variety of organisations and individuals, including:

• academics and academic organisations
• agricultural and industrial organisations
• environmental organisations
• organisations concerned with food and consumers
• health organisations
• governmental or regulatory bodies

Download the consultation paper.

Fact-finding meetings

The Working Party held a number of fact-finding meetings with individuals and organisations as part of its research, including:

• The British Society of Plant Breeders Ltd
• Department For International Development
• English Nature
• European Commission
• Institute of Virology & Environmental Microbiology
• Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
• Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• Monsanto Europe SA
• National Farmers’ Union
• National Institute of Agricultural Botany
• The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• Sainsbury’s
• The Science Museum
• Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops
• University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Dr David Ellar and Dr Paul Davis
• The Wellcome Trust
• Yale University, Professor Robert Evenson, Centre for Economic Growth
• Zeneca Plant Sciences