Nature features

For many years the thought of GM crops has filled Oxfordshire residents with dread. In July 1999 when the Government tried to run GM oilseed rape trails on Model Farm near Watlington demonstrators stampeded into the trial site, rolling over plants and ripping up handfuls of the crop.

In February 2004 Oxfordshire's council leaders voted that the county should be completely free of genetically modified crops, vowing that it would do all it could to stop GM crops being grown in the region and ban GM food from being served in schools.

But ten years on from the initial controversy the idea of GM Foods seems to be slipping back onto the menu. Globally there have been over a trillion GM meals consumed and nearly 120 million hectares of GM crops grown, but practically none of that was in the UK.

Now a number of leading scientists are suggesting that it is time to resume the debate, and to address the issues in a rational and constructive manner so that we all can properly come to terms with the type of agriculture we want going forward.

With this in mind BBC Oxford’s Tim Bearder has been speaking to a number of leading Oxfordshire voices on either side of the debate for an exclusive web-based programme.

The programme features:

Professor Dieter Helm Fellow of New College, Oxford, who sits on a number of advisory boards including the Advisory Panel on Energy and Climate Security.

Professor Chris Leaver, Emeritus Professor of Plant Science at University of Oxford.

Professor Nicholas Harberd, Sibthorpian Professor of Plant Sciences at University of Oxford.

Dr Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West & Abingdon, who sits on the House of Commons Innovation University Science and Skills Select Committee.

Colin Tudge, Oxford-based science writer and author of Feeding People is Easy.

Making Sense of GM
What is the genetic modification of plants and why are scientists doing it?

A Free Guide downloadable guide from Sense About Science, a working group of scientists and agriculturalists including Professor Chris Leaver who are looking to launch a fresh public discussion about GM.

Science Friction
Genetically Modified Crops

Radio 4’s Sue Nelson is joined by ecologist and Principal of Jesus College Oxford, Lord John Krebs and biologist and acclaimed science writer Colin Tudge, who argue the scientific merits and concerns of using GM crops to feed the world.

Some history on the debate from BBC News