News › Rothamsted Research experiments protected by injunction

The historic Broadbalk experiment

29 May 2012

The High Court has granted an injunction to protect the open field experiments at Rothamsted Research in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. This was in response to an application by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (the land owner) and other charities to protect work of significant scientific and historical value to the UK.

This was prompted by concerns that experiments were under threat of destruction, including a controlled experiment to test wheat, genetically modified to repel greenfly and blackfly. The protest group, Take The Flour Back and others, have made clear their intentions to destroy this work at any time.

Philip Brook Smith QC for the charities told the court that 'trampling on crops in fields corrupts the scientific objective of the studies being pursued'. But he explained that the charities had no wish to stifle free speech or protest: 'The respondents can still protest, just not on land over which they have no right of entry'.

Rothamsted Research and Lawes Agricultural Trust are committed to the scientific project that started in 2008 and which has the potential of significantly reducing the use of harmful pesticides in wheat crops, benefitting future generations and the environment.

Stephen James, Secretary of Lawes Agricultural Trust, based at Rothamsted said: " Our application sought only a very limited restriction to public access to the land. The use of nearby footpaths and access to nearby beauty spots is in no way hampered. But the wheat crop and the barrier of barley that surrounds it, is very fragile and as even a very limited intervention could seriously undermine the scientific credibility of the site so it is imperative that the immediate area be protected to avoid destruction

If the crop were destroyed the outcome could be disastrous for Rothamsted Research and the credibility and reputation of science in the UK would be damaged. Scientists would be increasingly cautious about conducting innovative experiments in the UK, which will have knock-on effects.

All scientists value constructive debate on these important issues – indeed, we have invited Take the Four Back to an open debate session to that end but they have so far declined our invitation. So I am delighted that the court has today, recognised the need to protect this valuable work from destructive acts."

Andrew Wass, partner at law firm Withers LLP acting for the charities, said: "The trustees of the charities have an obligation to take necessary steps to protect the assets of the charity – in this case the site and the crop. The threatened 'Decontamination' of the site could only occur following trespass on the land, trespass to goods and criminal damage. Despite appeals to the protestors to desist from damage in place of sensible dialogue, my clients reluctantly had no option but to seek the protection of the court."

Contacts

› Andrew Wass and/or Sarah Quilliam at Withers LLP on andrew.wass@withersworldwide.org or sarah.quilliam@withersworldwide.com

Notes to Editors

The Lawes Agricultural Trust was created in 1889 by Sir John Bennett Laws to ensure that his scientific work continued in perpetuity. Experiments on the site have been carried out since 1843 and is the oldest such site in the world at which scientific agricultural research is being undertaken.

The trial at Rothamsted Research uses modified what to deter aphids, an insect pest which can seriously damage wheat crops. The protest group had threatened at Sunday’s rally to 'decontaminate' the site unless the research was halted.

The trial is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Rothamsted Research Press Office

For further information, please contact Darren Hughes, Head of Communications, on +44 (0) 1582 763 133 ext 2673, email darren.hughes@rothamsted.ac.uk

Rothamsted is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, providing cutting-edge science and innovation for nearly 170 years. Our mission is to deliver the knowledge and new practices to increase crop productivity and quality and to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production. Our strength lies in our integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research in plant and soil science.

Rothamsted Research receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) . It is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, developing environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production through science and innovation for nearly 170 years.

About BBSRC

BBSRC is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences and the largest single public funder of agriculture and food-related research.

Sponsored by Government, BBSRC's budget for 2011-12 is around £445M which it is investing in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life in the UK and beyond and supports a number of important industrial stakeholders, including the agriculture, food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

BBSRC provides institute strategic research grants to the following:

The Babraham Institute, Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Aberystwyth University), Institute of Food Research, John Innes Centre, The Genome Analysis Centre, The Roslin Institute (University of Edinburgh) and Rothamsted Research.

The Institutes conduct long-term, mission-oriented research using specialist facilities. They have strong interactions with industry, Government departments and other end-users of their research.

For more information see: www.bbsrc.ac.uk