Rothamsted Research

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The British agricultural research institute Rothamsted Research, formerly known as the Institute of Arable Crops Research (IACR), describes itself as "the oldest agricultural research station in the world".[1] Rothamsted Research has research sites at Rothamsted, Hertfordshire and Broom's Barn, Suffolk. As of January 2010 it is one of seven UK institutes sponsored by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).[2]

Rothamsted is a charity and a company limited by guarantee and occupies land and buildings owned by the Lawes Agricultural Trust. The Trust's purpose is described on Rothamsted's website as aiding "the advancement of agricultural science through providing support for Rothamsted Research."[3]

According to Rothamsted's website, "We look upon most of our arrangements with commercial companies as partnerships". Rothamsted sees such partnerships as ideally providing the opportunity for "a seamless mix of basic research and practical applications." As of August 2003, the website listed Aventis, DuPont, Novartis and Syngenta, as among Rothamsted's 'partners'.[4]

Rothamsted is part of the consortium of three research groups (the others being the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, as part of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI)[5]) that carried out UK government work on farm-scale evaluations of genetically modified crops. Among the Rothamsted scientists involved in overseeing the trials were Dr Mike May and Dr Alan Dewar[6], who have also undertaken research for AgrEvo (later part of Aventis and later still Bayer)[7] and Monsanto[8][9][10] - companies whose crops were assessed in the farm scale trials.[11][12]


People

Rothamsted's Dr Peter Lutman was a co-author of a report to the government on progress of the UK government's farm scale GM crop trials. Dr Lutman also works for CropGen, a pro-GM lobby group set up and financed by the biotech industry. Two other scientists who have worked for Rothamsted who are also part of CropGen are Dr Nigel Halford and Dr Guy Poppy (now at Southampton University).

In January 2010 it was announced that Professor Maurice Moloney has been appointed the new Director and Chief Executive of Rothamsted Research. He is the Chief Scientific Officer of SemBioSys Genetics Inc.[13] - a plant biotech company well known for its controversial work on pharma crops (e.g. producing insulin from safflower seeds).[14]

A GM pharma specialist, Moloney has also worked on deriving a blood anti-coagulant from canola.[15][16][17]

Previously, Moloney led the Cell Biology group at Calgene, acquired by Monsanto in 1997.[18] At Calgene he developed the world's first transgenic oilseeds, which resulted in RoundUp Ready Canola and other novel crops. Moloney holds more than 300 patents.[19]

  • Professor Maurice Moloney - director and chief executive, appointed January 2010, to take up full duties from 15 April 2010[20]
  • Professor Ian Crute - director until January 2010

Rothamsted Research Board of Directors

Former Board of Directors

Professor D J Read FRS (Chairman) | Professor M Elves DSc (Deputy Chairman) | Dr David Brightman | Mr P W Chamberlain | Professor E C Cocking DSc, FRS | Mr R Ellis | Professor K Kilham | Professor B J Legg | Dr R G Turner

Lawes Agricultural Trust Company Limited Board of Directors

GM wheat trial

DEFRA granted Rothamsted permission to test two versions of GM wheat genetically modified to repel aphids in spring 2012 and 2013. According to Farmers Weekly, "[a]n alliance of 27 organisations has called for more transparency about the aims of the GM wheat trial. ... Up to now, £1.28m of taxpayers' money has been spent on the trials in the form of grants from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)."[21]

In early 2013, Rothamsted submitted an application to extend the field trial to include additional autumn-sown cadenza wheat. DEFRA approved the extension of genetically modified (GM) wheat trials in June 2013.[22]

Funding

In 2005/6 Rothamsted Research had a total income of over £ 25 m, in part from corporate sponsors.

  • 9% Industry
  • 5% EU
  • 24% DEFRA
  • 40% BBSRC - CSG
  • 9% BBSRC Grants
  • 4% Other Government
  • 9% All other

Supported organisations

Contact Details

Address:
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
AL5 2JQ
Tel: + 44 (0) 1582 763 133
Fax: + 44 (0) 1582 760 981
Email: foi.rothamsted AT rothamsted.ac.uk
Website: http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/

Notes

  1. ↑ Rothamsted Research Work with us, accessed 18 Oct 2013.
  2. ↑ Rothamsted Research, Ownership & funding, Web Archive of 20 Nov 2009, accessed 18 Oct 2013.
  3. ↑ Rothamsted Research, The Lawes Agricultural Trust, accessed 18 Oct 2013.
  4. ↑ Rothamsted Research, Research Partners, Web Archive of 20 Aug 2003, accessed 25 Jan 2010.
  5. ↑ Joe N. Perry, Formation of the Consortium: Spring 1999, Joe Perry's work in GM research - A personal account of the Farm Scale Evaluations of GMHT crops, Rothamsted Research website, accessed 25 Jan 2010.
  6. ↑ Joe N. Perry, Formation of the Consortium: Spring 1999, Joe Perry's work in GM research - A personal account of the Farm Scale Evaluations of GMHT crops, Rothamsted Research website, accessed 25 Jan 2010.
  7. ↑ John Vidal and James Meikle, "Test experts paid by GM firm," Guardian 4 Aug 1999, accessed 25 Jan 2010. NB The Guardian wrongly reports that one of the scientists was "Bob May" - in fact, it was Mike May.
  8. ↑ Alan M. Dewar, Mike J. May, Ian P. Woiwod, Lisa A. Haylock, Gillian T. Champion, Beulah H. Garner, Richard J. N. Sands, Aiming Qi and John D. Pidgeon, "A novel approach to the use of genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops for environmental benefit," Proc Biol Sci. 22 Feb 2003; 270(1513): 335–340, accessed 26 Jan 2010. On p. 340, Monsanto is acknowledged as a co-funder of the research.
  9. ↑ Mike J. May, Gillian T. Champion, Alan M. Dewar, Aiming Qi and John D. Pidgeon, "Management of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant sugar beet for spring and autumn environmental benefit, Proc. R. Soc. B 2005 272, 111-119, accessed 26 Jan 2010. This research used Monsanto patented seed.
  10. ↑ Alan M Dewar,* Lisa A Haylock, Kathy M Bean and Mike J May, "Delayed control of weeds in glyphosate-tolerant sugar beet and the consequences on aphid infestation and yield," Pest Manag Sci 56:345-350 (2000), accessed 26 Jan 2010. This research was funded by Monsanto, as is acknowledged on the final page of the study (p. 350).
  11. ↑ John Vidal and James Meikle, "Test experts paid by GM firm, Guardian 4 Aug 1999, accessed 25 Jan 2010. NB The Guardian wrongly reports that one of the scientists was "Bob May" - in fact, it was Mike May.
  12. ↑ GeneWatch UK states: "The oilseed rape and maize have been developed by AgrEvo (part of the multi-national company, Aventis), the company that also produces glufosinate. The sugar beet has been developed by Monsanto, which also manufactures glyphosate, in partnership with Novartis." GeneWatch UK, UK Farm Scale Trials with GM Crops - 2000, Fact Sheet Number 1, 2000, accessed 26 Jan 2010.
  13. ↑ Rothamsted Research, New Director for Rothamsted Research, BBSRC press release, 14 Jan 2010.
  14. ↑ Government of Canada, SemBioSys Genetics Inc. Company Overview, undated document, located on Canadian government Foreign Affairs and International Trade website, accessed 25 Jan 2010.
  15. ↑ G.J.H. van Rooijen, B. Kühnel, V. Kumar, J.-H. Liu, S. Mahmoud, M.M. Moloney, "From farming for food to pharming for pharmaceuticals and other high value proteins in crucifers, ISHS Acta Horticulturae 459: International Symposium Brassica 97, Xth Crucifer Genetics Workshop, accessed 25 Jan 2010 (subscription req'd to access full article).
  16. ↑ Ag-West Bio, Using Transgenic Plants to Make Medicines, AgBiotech Infosource: Issue 22 July, 1996, accessed 25 Jan 2010.
  17. ↑ Bioline International, "Molecular Farming Yields Novel Products from Canola," The Agbiotech Bulletin Volume 4 Issue 6 Jun 1996, accessed 25 Jan 2010.
  18. ↑ Rothamsted Research, New Director for Rothamsted Research, BBSRC press release, 14 Jan 2010.
  19. ↑ Rothamsted Research, New Director for Rothamsted Research, BBSRC press release, 14 Jan 2010.
  20. ↑ Rothamsted Research, New Director for Rothamsted Research, BBSRC press release, 14 Jan 2010.
  21. ↑ Philip Case, "Rothamsted challenged over GM wheat trial aims," Farmers Weekly 04 Jun 2013, accessed 23 Sep 2013.
  22. ↑ Alistair Driver, "Defra approves Rothamsted GM wheat trial extension," Farmers Guardian 13 Jun 2013, accessed 23 Sep 2013.
  23. ↑ SMC, Funding, accessed 23 Sep 2013.
  24. ↑ Rothamsted Research, Research collaborators, accessed 31 Jan 2015.
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