GM Camelina

Pleased to see the field trial of GM Camelina has got the go-ahead at Rothamsted.

I grew the non-GM varieties at Bangor University and found Camelina to be a good prospect as a low input crop.  Yields were low (around 2-3 t/ha), but costs very little to grow and has very short growing season (April/May - August).  Could be an ideal crop in a rotation to deal with black-grass and provide a timely sowing for a following wheat.

Usual complaints from the antis - sadly a lot of misinformed comments - although there are legitimate concerns with some other GM crops, the Rothamsted crop is not developed by Monsanto; is not 'Roundup-Ready'; will not cause Indian farmers to commit suicide; will not kill butterflies; and will not create 'super-weeds' etc.

Of course, it may not perform in the field as it has in the glasshouse - which is why the trial must be done.  

And as someone using (conventional) plant breeding to improve the health of our food I welcome this and Professor Cathie Martin's GM purple tomatoes (developed at the John Innes Centre, but having to be grown in Canada). All adds to the debate around food and health.