Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, showed his support for an innovative new Genetic Technologies Bill designed to boost food production technologies, fight animal disease and support British farmers produce high-quality food to the best international standards.
Covering precision-bred plants and animals, the Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Bill will introduce evidence-based regulations for the agricultural industry to develop crops and livestock that are more resilient against diseases, the effects of climate change and are less reliant on pesticides.
As the only vet in the House of Commons, Dr Hudson lent his expertise to the Bill’s Third Reading giving a wide-ranging speech on the benefits the Bill will have on farming and reassuring his parliamentary colleagues on the science behind the piece of legislation.
Commenting afterwards, Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:
“It’s hard to overstate the potential benefits of this truly innovative Bill in terms of animal and human health and welfare alongside the environment. This is an incredible opportunity for our food production sector to become global leaders in this rapidly developing field and one I am happy to support our Conservative Government on.
“I understand there has been some concern among the public who might fear this technology but frankly I think this has been a communication issue not a scientific one. This legislation is not about creating Frankenstein’s monster and is very different to genetic modification.”
“As I’ve said previously, our laws need to reflect the rapidly evolving scientific work in this sector and in doing so we can attract agri-food investment, boost animal and public health, and secure our food supply in an increasingly uncertain world.”
Precision breeding relates to techniques such as gene editing where the genetic changes could have occurred naturally or through traditional breeding methods. This is very different to genetic modification which attempts to alter the genetic makeup of an organism by introducing genetic material from another species.
Opportunities available under the new legislation might include climate resilient wheat, and poultry with resistance to the devastating disease Avian Influenza.
Such developments would reduce morbidity and mortality in farming; secure more stable domestic food source without so much need for pesticides and fertiliser.
Dr Hudson also pointed to the indirect human benefits of the bill which would lessen the need for antimicrobial medicines and thus thus help tackle the global issue of antimicrobial resistance.
Moreover, having started his political journey following the 2001 Foot and Mouth Crisis, Dr Hudson told the House of the lingering mental health impacts that losing animals to disease can and continues to have on regions such as Cumbria. This is a topic Dr Hudson is passionate about, having triggered an official Inquiry on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, on which he sits.
The Bill is now being introduced into the House of Lords before amendments will be considered and if successful Royal Assent will be given and the Bill will become law.
Dr Hudson’s full speech can be found at 19:54:46, here: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/dbbf4cbf-d9c3-45b5-bbbc-19b844791e8b#player-tabs
Selected quotes from Dr Hudson’s speech:
“As a veterinary surgeon, I am passionate about animal health and welfare. I also represent Penrith and The Border, a huge rural constituency with a huge farming footprint. We have the most fantastic farmers in Cumbria, and across the UK, who farm to the highest animal welfare standards. I firmly believe that we do not have anything to fear from this legislation.”
“I firmly welcome anything that can reduce morbidity and mortality in farming. I speak as a vet with a lot of first-hand experience through the patients I have treated, but also through my experiences in the foot and mouth crisis of 2001. The trauma that infectious diseases can create for rural communities is something that we are still living with in Cumbria and other parts of the UK. When a farmer who is farming his or her stock gets the vets involved to treat disease, that has a toll on the vets and on the farmer. No one working there wants to see animals suffering from disease.”
“People fear that the Bill might lead to different practices that will exacerbate animal health and welfare issues in farmed animals. It is important to remember that in this country, we farm to the highest animal welfare standards and that there are robust mechanisms for monitoring animal health and welfare in our farming practices.”
“As I said, I think it will help animal health and welfare and the environment, and support human and public health and the mental health of people working with animals. I wish it well as it progresses.”
