Discussion session about GM/biotech applications
Time: Thursday, July 28th, at 12:30
Convener: Melvyn F. Askew, Honorary Member of EAPR
Outline:
Where might genetic engineering fit into potato production, and having identified any opportunities, what might be the pros and cons of any introduction?
Areas for discussion:
• weed control in the potato - could herbicide tolerant varieties of potato help?
• late blight in potato - introducing blight resistant or tolerant varieties through biotech applications?
• potato storage - could antisense technologies (amongst others) assist in storage of potatoes crops?
• improved potato quality for human or industrial use - could GM technologies bring in new genetic traits?
• adaption to climate change - could traits introduced by GM technology assist in overcoming temperature, drought stress etc that will occur with climate change?
• public opinion and biotech – implications on potato consumption?
A short scene setter item (5 min) will be presented for each topic. Each topic will be dealt one by one, and the discussion will move on to the next topic.
