London, United Kingdom
December 8, 2014
USDA/FAS GAIN report
Highlights:
The UK has a long history of progressive research in plant and animal science. Ensuring continued investment in research, and improving the competitiveness of UK agriculture and food in global markets, is driving UK politicians to be bolder in calling for greater access to commercial applications of genetic engineering. The back-drop of the debates on food security, climate change, and population growth has led to an increased awareness of the role that genetic enhancement can play. The UK is a strong proponent of more efficient and effective regulation of genetic engineering within Europe. Most of the major grocery stores now permit their private label animal products to be fed GE products, and, in time, the food industry may have greater confidence to incorporate more products of genetic engineering in the supply chain.
Executive Summary:
There are strong historic and cultural ties between the UK and the United States. These are clearly demonstrated by the similarity in trends and product availability in retail and foodservice markets.
In recent years, the UK has imported more horticultural products and consumer-ready food and drink products as opposed to bulk and intermediate agricultural products from the USA. The de facto closure of large swathes of the UK market after implementation of the EU's biotechnology regulations in 2004 (Regulation 1829/2003) affected bulk/lightly processed commodities, including animal feed components: soybean meal, and corn products such as Distillers Dried Grains (DDGS) and corn gluten feed (CGF), in particular. Confidence to purchase these products is wholly dependent on the status of EU approval (for food and feed) for new GE crops. The main supply nations are located outside of the EU - Argentina, Brazil and USA. Low Level Presence (LLP) of unapproved GE events in bulk shipments remains a concern that dominates trade decisions, since the threshold for feed is very low at 0.1 percent and only for traits already in the EU approval pipeline. There continues to be zero tolerance for the food supply chain. Trade statistics highlight what can be achieved in exports from the U.S. when the approvals and pricing landscape is conducive: UK imports of soybeans from USA increased from $30 million in calendar year 2010 to $130 million in 2011; soybean meal followed reaching $100 million in import value in 2012, up from $27 million in 2011.
With regard to genetic engineering in animals, the UK has imported embryo progeny of clones or embryos of clone progeny as well as bovine semen which may have come from clones or their progeny. The UK has not imported GE animals or livestock clones.
Despite being a supporter of the science, the UK has never planted a commercial biotech crop, and has no crops under development. The limited portfolio of plant biotech events that are approved for cultivation in the EU are not well-suited to UK growing conditions. The UK has some of the largest and most efficient farms in Europe, but increasing weather variability and a reduction in available fungicides and pesticides (as a result of an EU review) has left horticultural production vulnerable. The UK is keen to attract inward investment in plant science applications and capitalize on any growth opportunities presented by agricultural biotechnology. As a policy response, the UK has developed a long-term agri-tech strategy focused on knowledge transfer and the practical application of innovative technology to the agricultural sector. The strategy favors multi-center academic collaboration and public-private partnerships. Funding has been allocated for focused Centres for Agricultural Innovation. The first one announced is a Centre for AgriInformatics and Sustainability Metrics and it is anticipated that other centers will focus on commercializing crop and livestock science.
The forthright approach of the current UK political leadership on this issue may give greater confidence to the food industry to incorporate more products of plant genetic engineering in the food chain. Availability and cost of non-biotech ingredients is becoming an issue to the extent that several major supermarket chains and foodservice suppliers are continually reviewing their policies. This is creating a more favorable market for biotech animal feed. Incorporation of ingredients derived from biotech crops (for example, in poultry feed) is happening on a case-by-case basis so that the cost-benefit analysis to consumers is clear.
As with plant biotechnologies, the UK Government takes a pro-science and generally positive, pragmatic and progressive approach to animal biotechnologies. The UK must implement and follow all EU legislation on animal biotechnologies.
As regards consumer acceptance for genetic engineering, there is a vocal minority opposed. Most surveys show apathy and lack of knowledge by the general population, who rely heavily on supermarket chains to provide them with safe, quality food. There is a dominance of private label products in the UK market and an inherent trust (cultivated by the retailers) that they will “do the right thing” for their customers.
Generally, there are signs that the ground is shifting in the UK. Trade and even the mainstream media is increasingly making a case for the technology and calling on industry and the public to be more open-minded about potential benefits. There is a growing awareness that European consumers are buying meat from animals fed on biotech feed, and a growing acceptance that biotech crop derivatives in the food supply chain are inevitable, and to be managed, if not embraced.
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