The new Agricultural and Environment Biotechnology Commission has no intention of questioning the field trials or addressing any awkward questions over safety. It appears their job is to pacify public outrage, sweet talk organic farmers and effectively pour white wash over the whole affair. Angela Ryan reports on the Commission’s first meeting with the public on December 7, 2000.

The room was packed with people all anticipating decisive action from the new Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission, especially over the UK farm scale trials of genetically modified organisms. But they were disappointed, as it became clear that the new commission has no intention of questioning the field trials, nor the rigor of the scientific framework upon which they are based. Instead its policy is ‘business as usual’.