Agriculture committee  I feel that this is exactly why we need the impact assessment, why we really need to look at it. I can point at risks. I cannot give definitive answers here. Scientists actually are the last ones one should ask for a definite answer to anything. They're constantly on the search f

Agriculture committee  Thank you for the clarification. Hybrid seeds are not defined as producing sterile seeds, but for some of them, of course, the seeds will not be able to be used. I am not knowledgeable enough on this, and that's why I would need your help. What would happen if those hybrids you w

Agriculture committee  That will go to neighbouring fields. If the neighbour then uses flax for which they keep the seeds--I'm not familiar with this--would the seeds that farmer collects be affected? Would they be sterile because you used the hybrids? I don't think that is the case, but I do not kno

Agriculture committee  What I find to be the crucial difference is that you know the seed you are buying, how it performs. It's been tested, it's reliable, and you know what you have, and that is crucial for the farmer. That is what is lacking in the design of GURTs technology. It is not reliable. Of

Agriculture committee  Terminator technology, GURTs technology, as designed.... You can look at all the different patterns that have been described or at what is put forward by Delta and Pine Land, and--I am sure my colleague here will agree with me--there is no sterile pollen. Pollen is produced and w

Agriculture committee  May I briefly also say that I agree that at a certain stage field testing is required if one wants more data, but we do not have enough data yet in order to actually have a scientific reason to do field testing. We need greenhouse trials first. That is the sequence. That's where

Agriculture committee  If it should work, that is. I still haven't seen evidence of the technology actually working. But from my understanding through working with governments and farmers in the south, there is a concern of loss of farmers' seeds and varieties and biodiversity. In two respects, there

Agriculture committee  I'm afraid I will not be able to answer all your questions because some of them fall outside the frame of my expertise, but I'll try my best.

Agriculture committee  You wonder whether there is a need for a moratorium. Reflecting good science and good scientific practices, the precautionary approach is part of that. That means if we do not have enough information but have enough evidence to believe there are risks—and some of the risks are se

Agriculture committee  Thank you. My background is as a genetic scientist, and at the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was just mentioned by my colleague here, I represent the Federation of German Scientists. In that way, I represent Germany and the U.K. a little bit in my nationality. My co