In the following article the MP Dr Ian Gibson blames the difficulties the John Innes Centre has been suffering in obtaining funding on "the current public ill feeling over genetically modified crops" and the collapse of its multi million pound deal with Syngenta. That deal had previously been presented in the UK as a model for other science institutes to follow.

This is a sad story, involving the loss of a lot of jobs, but it's all the sadder because the JIC's director Chris Lamb and his supporters at the JIC were warned time and time again not to put so many of the institute's eggs in the GM basket - that doing so was a dangerous and ultimately futile route to head down.

We even ran an e-mail petition to Lamb and the chair of the JIC's board in which we called for the JIC to "reconsider its role and the overcommitment of the institute, and of many of its senior scientists, to one particular technology."

Our petition stated, "Such scientific certainty and commitment are inappropriate when science is simply unable at this point to provide definitive answers about the safety of GMOs, given the deep uncertainties about their effects. Such an overcommitment is also misplaced when attractive alternative applications of science in agriculture (such as traditional plant breeding assisted by gene mapping and molecular markers) are not only available but would enjoy far greater public support and marketability."
http://ngin.tripod.com/johninnes.htm
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Axing of scientists hits local pride
Eastern Daily Press, 8 April 2005

It has been hailed as Norfolk's golden chalice as the beacon of the county's most prestigious industry, a prime mover in the health of its economy and a magnet for future growth. But as a tenth of scientists' jobs look set to be cut in the county's flagship research centre, LORNA MARSH reports on the blow for region and the science community.

Norfolk's flagship scientific institute and one of the world's leading research centres is likely to shed 10pc of its jobs.

Thirty-five scientific posts out of 350 at the John Innes Centre (JIC) at the Norwich Research Park in Colney are likely to go after millions of pounds of funding were withdrawn.

Money coming from the private sector and the European Union has been cut by around a half and extra costs relating to insurance and rates represent a loss of GBP3m to the centre over the last three years.

The cuts will mean having to scale down on some areas of research, although which areas will be targeted is still to be decided.

Although Government funding remains the centre is seeking to save GBP1.6m a year over the next few years from its annual GBP21m budget with a cost-cutting review likely to lead to around 35 scientific job losses.

In addition the JIC, the UK's leading research centre in plant and microbial science, is merging its admin and support staff with the Institute of Food Research (IFR), also based at the Norwich Research Park.

Catherine Reynolds, spokeswoman for the IFR, insisted the review that led to the amalgamation did not indicate funding problems at the institute and that its timing alongside the JIC's difficulties was merely a coincidence.

But the merger of support staff will help cut costs at the JIC, although it is unknown how many non-science jobs will go at both centres.

Chris Lamb, director of the JIC, played down fears of a crisis, saying the centre was not in the red but had to take early action to avoid worsening problems in the future.

He claimed the re-structuring will allow the JIC to rebuild reserves and invest in infrastructure and new research.

"Our position will worsen if we do not take action now. The main contributing factors are changes in non-government sources for science funding and increases in certain operating costs.

"JIC also needs to provide funds for investment in our infrastructure, for new research opportunities and to rebuild our reserves."

Prof Lamb said hundreds of thousands of pounds of past and projected JIC savings were not enough to alleviate funding difficulties.

He promised to work with staff to minimise the number of compulsory redundancies and said JIC and IFR management and unions are working closely together to lessen the detrimental impact of re-structuring.

Centre bosses insisted that, despite the scaling down in research areas, it would not lead to a decline in quality or reputation of the JIC, saying funding was always unpredictable and cuts were being felt everywhere.

Prof Lamb said: "This painful course of action will secure the long term sustainability of JIC as a world leading research institute."

"It should not be interpreted as a crisis for the Centre as it will aid, not hinder, the long term viability of JIC."

He said he expected the funding situation to improve again in the next five to eight years.

Ian Gibson, MP for North Norfolk and chairman of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, said the industry and Europe did not recognise the importance of plant research, as it lacked the cachet of medicine but was nevertheless at least as important.

Dr Gibson blamed the difficulties in obtaining funding on the current public ill feeling over genetically modified crops.

He claimed JIC's problems harked back to 2002 when commercial partner Syngenta pulled out of a major alliance with the centre to look into genetic improvement of wheat.

And JIC spokesman Ray Mathias said the job loss and funding situation was particularly disappointing in terms of the withdrawal of EU cash.

He emphasised the importance of plant research with examples of the centre's work which could have significant ramifications including the recent green tea breakthrough for cancer sufferers reported in the EDP earlier this year.

“Plant science is not recognised as it should be right now. It will be in 10 years time when issues arise but that may be too late. If a problem is happening tomorrow you want to prevent it today,” he said.

“You know that industry funding waxes and wanes but the loss of European funding aspect is less understandable. We have a serious problem and dealing with it is very unpleasant and painful,” said Dr Mathias.