GMW:_Syngenta_to_move_its_labs_to_US

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GMW:_Syngenta_to_move_its_labs_to_US

" GM_WATCH "

Wed, 30 Jun 2004 22:21:34 +0100

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Large-scale commercial research into genetically modified crops in the UK is to

end

 

" The whole industry understands Syngenta's decision. The UK is a difficult place

to work. " - Julian Little, a spokesman for the biotech industry lobby group

Agriculture and Biotechnology Council

 

Syngenta was the last biotech company to retain a significant GM research

presence in the UK after decisions by Monsanto, Dupont and Bayer Cropscience to

withdraw.

 

" Anyone who isn't about to retire will leave the country. We are all feeling,

'what the hell is the point?' " - Michael Wilson, self-proclaimed biotech

evangelist

 

" This decision shows the biotech industry misjudged the market in the UK and

Europe. Rather than retreat to the US, they should rethink the products they

offer sustainable agriculture. " - Pete Riley of Friends of the Earth

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Syngenta to move its labs to US

By John Mason, Food and Rural Affairs Correspondent

Financial Times, June 30 2004

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory & c=Sto\

ryFT & cid=1087373383411

 

Large-scale commercial research into genetically modified crops in the UK is to

end after Syngenta, the Anglo-Swiss biotechnology company, on Wednesday said it

would close its laboratories because of the poor business outlook for the

technology.

 

The company plans to move its research efforts from Jealott's Hill in Berkshire

to North Carolina, in the US, where there is a more favourable business and

regulatory climate.

 

" This does not lessen our commitment to biotechnology but we have to have people

in places where they have the most impact - and that is in North Carolina, " the

company said.

 

The Jealott's Hill research centre will continue developing agro-chemicals,

receiving $15m of fresh investment. But all biotech work will stop with the loss

of 130 jobs, it said.

 

Syngenta's move, reported in the Times Higher Education Supplement on Thursday

dismayed plant scientists throughout the UK who saw the decision as a blow to

some academic research.

 

Syngenta was the last biotech company to retain a significant GM research

presence in the UK after decisions by Monsanto, Dupont and Bayer Cropscience to

withdraw. It has underpinned much plant science research by universities.

 

Michael Wilson, a professor of plant biology at Warwick University, told the

THES: " Anyone who isn't about to retire will leave the country. We are all

feeling, 'what the hell is the point?'

 

Mike Gale, of the John Innes Centre, the leading public sector plant science

centre, was not surprised, saying Syngenta had been winding down its UK

commitment for two years. " The state of applied plant science is not as high as

it has been, but in terms of fundamental research we are still strong, " he said.

 

Syngenta stopped short of blaming government policy for its decision to pull out

of the UK.

 

However, the Agriculture and Biotechnology Council, the trade association it

belongs to, said lack of government support was a clear factor behind the

decision.

 

Julian Little, a spokesman for the council, said: " The whole industry

understands Syngenta's decision. The UK is a difficult place to work. "

 

Margaret Beckett, the environment secretary, had made encouraging statements

saying GM crops would be considered on a case-by-case basis. However, this had

not been backed by action, he said.

 

Environmentalists welcomed Syngenta's withdrawal. Pete Riley of Friends of the

Earth said: " This decision shows the biotech industry misjudged the market in

the UK and Europe. Rather than retreat to the US, they should rethink the

products they offer sustainable agriculture. "