New Aphid Repellent GM Crop Piloted in Britain

This new gene harnesses the crop's own pheromone emitting system, allowing it to emit a peppermint smelling aroma that is similar to a smell that aphids emit when they are worried or in danger.

29 Mar 2012 --- A new method of genetically modifying wheat crops could lead to a reduction in the amount of pesticides used during farming.

This new gene harnesses the crop's own pheromone system, allowing it to emit a peppermint smelling aroma that is similar to a smell that aphids produce when they are in danger.

The smell has the dual effect of scaring off aphids, and at the same time, attracting the insect’s natural predators such as wasps. This helps deter the insects, which suck sugar out of plants and cause global crop damage costing billions of pounds each year.

The British advance is described as a "world first" with far-reaching potential for farming.

In future, it may be possible to cut the use of pesticides on plants modified with the gene.

Eight test plots of the wheat, measuring six meters square, are now growing at the Rothamsted Research agricultural institute in Hertfordshire.

Speaking at a news briefing in London, Professor John Pickett, head of chemical ecology at Rothamsted Research, said: "We are providing a totally new way of controlling pests that doesn't rely on toxic modes of action, and it's a UK first."

He hoped that in time the technology would benefit the farming community and produce a saleable product.

The pilot study is one of only three GM schemes currently occurring in England.

Huge public and media backlash about the use of GM crops has meant that many leading manufacturers have resigned themselves to the fact their use will not be widely permitted for the foreseeable future in Europe.

BASF, one of the leading GM science researchers recently pulled out of Europe to concentrate on the US where GM products are more accepted.

BASF Plant Science spokesperson, Julia Meder told FoodIngredientsFirst in February "The acceptance for GM has become worse in Europe in the last year. For example, at the beginning of September, the European Court of justice made a new ruling on GM pollen in honey. This makes the conducting of field trials more and more difficult for us and means that almost anybody can sue us. Last summer, we saw field destructions taking place in Germany, which put people at risk. There have been some serious recent setbacks and we thought long and hard about the whole situation before making this decision."

“We are convinced that plant biotechnology is a key technology for the 21st century. However, there is still a lack of acceptance for this technology in many parts of Europe – from the majority of consumers, farmers and politicians. Therefore, it does not make business sense to continue investing in products exclusively for cultivation in this market,” said Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF, responsible for plant biotechnology. “We will therefore concentrate on the attractive markets for plant biotechnology in North and South America and the growth markets in Asia.”