PW-ACTUA breeding techniques ‘If there are no quick political decisions, we as HZPC will start thinking of transferring our breeding activities to the USA’, Gerard Backx, CEO of HZPC emphasises. appeal is to permit the use of these breeding methods as accepted breeding techniques for the benefit of the entire sector and the world’s food supply’ Backx concludes. Corrupted by fake facts In addition to Backx, Professor Sybe Schaap, Chairman of the Committee on Genetic Modification (COGEM), had been invited to give his view on developments around GMOs. The COGEM advises the government on the possible risks of production and dealings with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for man and the environment. ‘The GMO discussion has been corrupted by fake facts. Emotion dominates reason. This is why we have to start discussing the factual content’, Schaap tells the growers. He has noticed that there’s a big difference in society where the application of GMOs in industry and in medical science is concerned. ‘There’s hardly any discussion about their application in science, while there’s quite a lot of fuss about usage in the agricultural sector’, the Professor points out. To inform the politicians about the situation concerning GMOs in 2016, the COGEM compiled a trend analysis of biotechnology. In this document, the organisation indicates that boundaries are getting blurred, regulations are inadequate, and new societal problems are looming. ‘Differences are fast becoming hazy and, for some products, the applied techniques are no longer detectable’, Schaap also explains. ‘Meanwhile, the list of new techniques is growing. GMO regulations need to be reviewed, but we’ll have to do this pretty fast if we don’t want to end up with a lot of uncontrolled proliferation. Moving all the techniques to parts of the world which allow them, such as India and China. And America has already been mentioned as a possible consequence of today’s politics. That not only creates unfairness but also totally disrupts the playing field’, Schaap emphasises. ● ‘The GMO discussion has been corrupted by fake facts’, says Professor Sybe Schaap, Chairman of the Committee on Genetic Modification (COGEM). NEW VARIETIES DIFFICULT TO RECOGNISE To test the knowledge of the potato varieties of the participants at the Potato Workshop, the potato trading company Eriva had organised a quiz at the business market, whereby the participants had to recognise the tubers of the Ramos, Fontane, Lady Anna, Bintje, Innovator, Agria, Melody and Maritiema varieties. After the discussion about the new breeding techniques, the Eriva Director Sjaak Ermers announced the results. Despite the traditional way of breeding, to his surprise, none of the participants had recognised all the varieties. Five participants found six of the eight varieties. Finally, it was Joost van der Eijk, crop grower in Dordrecht, who won the quiz and received a 200 euro cheque from Sjaak Ermers. Joost van der Eijk (l) was presented with a 200 euro cheque by Sjaak Ermers. Potato World 2017 • number 2 11 Pagina 10
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