SGR Statement

The statement welcomes the decision that GM spring-sown oilseed rape and GM sugar beet chemical regimes are more harmful to wildlife than conventional ones, contributing to the lack of commercial GM crop prospects in the UK. While GM maize (Chardon LL) was approved, the developer, Bayer Cropscience, abandoned commercialisation due to government restrictions and liability requirements. SGR argues that biotechnology company evidence on environmental and health risks is inadequate and calls for research funding to be redirected from GM crops to sustainable alternatives like organic farming.

• Ministers determined that chemical regimes for GM sugar beet and GM spring-sown oilseed rape cause more harm to wildlife than conventional chemical regimes, based on Farm-Scale Evaluations (FSEs).
• Bayer Cropscience decided not to commercialise GM maize (Chardon LL) in the UK despite government approval, citing excessive cultivation restrictions and the requirement to accept responsibility for resulting damage.
• SGR contends that evidence from biotechnology companies regarding GM crops, specifically Chardon LL, fails to sufficiently address risks to human health, the environment, and crop cross-contamination, as well as the industry's growing power in the global food system.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (2004). SGR Statement. https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/approval-and-withdrawal-gm-crops-uk-sgr-statement

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. SGR Statement. 2004. https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/approval-and-withdrawal-gm-crops-uk-sgr-statement.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=SGR Statement |date=15 April 2004 |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/approval-and-withdrawal-gm-crops-uk-sgr-statement |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{scientistsforglobalresponsibility2004sgr, author = {{Scientists for Global Responsibility}}, title = {{SGR Statement}}, publisher = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, year = {2004}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/approval-and-withdrawal-gm-crops-uk-sgr-statement}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }