The Swiss National Foundation condemns the partial ravaging of experimental sites with tests of genetically modified wheat at the AGROSCOPE research station in Reckenholz-Tänikon, Switzerland near Zurich. The field experiments are part of the National Research Programme No. 59 (NFP59) “Benefits and Risks of the field release of transgenic crops”, being carried out by the National Research Foundation with the mandate of the Swiss Government and approval of the Federal Office of Environment.
An important part of the field trials is risk assessment of transgenic crops which aims to assess interactions of genetically modified wheat with other plants, soil microbes and insects. The research results are intended to provide Swiss policy makers with the basis for decisions about whether genetically modified crops can be commercialised in Swiss agriculture.
These field experiments take into account critical arguments of opponents to GM crops. This is why we believe the destruction is in nobody’s interest. The NFP59 programme leaders and the researchers have always placed high value on transparent information policies to engage in broad public discussion on the benefits and risks of field releases of GM crops. The researchers are meeting the highest international standards of biosafety in their field experiments.
The research board of the NFP59 together with the researchers involved will try to assess the damage to the projects and the whole research programme.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Dirk Dobbelaere
Präsident Leitungsgruppe NFP 59
Tel. 031 631 26 25
E-Mail: dirk.dobbelaere@mopa.unibe.ch
Dr. Stefan Husi
Programmkoordinator NFP 59
Tel. 031 308 23 43
E-Mail: shusi@snf.ch
Simon Koechlin
Pressedienst SNF
Tel. 031 308 23 75
E-Mail: skoechlin@snf.ch
Contact researchers:
Prof. Dr. Willy Gruissem
ETHZ, Plant Biotechnology
ETH Zentrum, LFW E57.1
CH – 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
Tel. +41 44 632 08 57
E-Mail: wgruissem@ethz.ch
