b'ES: ARE YOUR MEMBERS PREPARED FOR BREXITthe expression that plant breeding started with crossing the best AND WHATS YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN ANDand hoping for the bestand here we are now, able to make very YOUR BIGGEST WORRY ABOUT THAT? precise edits in individual genes. Thats incredible evolution in the science of plant breeding.PM:Our members, are I hope are as prepared as they can be.When I look in the fields now, I can see sugar beet crops We have certainly worked flat out in BSPB on this from the daygrowing in their first year without neonicotinoid seed treat-of the referendum result. We were on the phone to the Ministryments and cereals about to go the same way but with very little of Agriculture very quickly to say you do know about plantif anything yet available by way of the resistant varieties that breeding and how crucial it is to UK food and farming? Youfarmers now desperately need because they dont have access do know what an integrated European industry this is? You doto chemistry to help them avoid the problems of virus infection. know about the industrys reliance on European plant varietyIn Europe we have tied one hand behind the farmers back rights and the EU Common Catalogue for protection and accessby taking away his chemical options and then in one deft move to markets? We have been strong in representing our membersby the European Court we have tied the other hand too, by views to government, in bringing information back and gettingimposing a regulatory barrier to the plant breeding industrys it out to our members as fast as we possibly can so that they canpotential to deliver genetic alternativesas quickly as the sci-digest it and decide what actions they need to take.ence might allow. It seems bizarre that we depend completely on BSPB members were all very well prepared for the 29th offarmers for food production but have taken a series of regulatory March and had taken steps to prevent any disruption in supplydecisions that make it much harder for them to do this. to customers. But then, of course, we didnt leave. So right now,It excites me that we have something in gene editing that it is quite difficult to be able to advise members on what to do.can be a steep change in developing better adapted crops faster The real issue now is the complete uncertainty: Are we leaving?than ever before. And it excites me to be able to work at a When are we leaving? On what terms are we leaving? If we dontnational level, and also with colleagues at ISF and ESA to try to know what the end point looks like, it is very difficult to plan,secure regulatory reform, to give our plant breeders the oppor-its very difficult to advise any member on what they should do.tunity to use this science and give farmers, and consumers the new products which they so desperately need.ES: IS THERE STILL A CHANCE OF STAYING IN THE EU? IF NOT, WHAT DO BRITISH PLANT BREEDERS HAVE TO DO TO PREPARE AND WHAT SHOULD BRITISH SEED COMPANIES DO TO PREPARE AS WELL?PM:There is a very slim chance of remain. It is one of the possible ways out of the mess, but very dangerous politi-cally for the country. It would leave a government and a nation having to deal with 52% of the populationthe people who voted to leavefeeling disillusioned, disen-franchised, and angry. And they would want to vote out the government that kept them in the EU at the earliest opportunity. So, I think there are many dangers and it could potentially lead to the complete demise of the two-party political system in the UK. It is a possibility, but for these reasons, a remote one. To prepare now, plant breeders in the UK market place should firstly consider joining BSPB if they are not already members because we have access to gov-ernment, to government officials and to ministers, so we can represent their views and we can also bring them the latest news on Brexit and whats happening as it happens. Individual companies dont necessarily have that level of access because the government doesnt have the resource to consult with everybody. So, if you are not yet a member of the association, we would very much welcome you to join.Once you do have that information, as a company you need to look at your business model, consider the different scenar-ios, and work out what you need to do to be sure that you will continue to have intellectual property protection, and market access on both sides on the channel. ES: WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW THAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST IN THE WORLD OF PLANT BREEDING?PM:I think this has to be the whole story of gene editing. I am enormously excited by the power of the science and the speed at which it is developing. I have often heardPenny MaplestoneEUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEAN SEED I 39'