The president of the Institute of Horticulture, Professor Geoff Dixon, has welcomed the Defra announcement of a national debate 'GM Nation?', taking place in June.

Professor Dixon has urged IOH members to take part in the regional meetings planned, and to set up local meetings within their branches. He said: 'Defra is providing a 'toolkit' for setting up debates and will provide a facilitator for larger meetings.

This provides a unique opportunity to have our say on GM.' Keynote regional conferences will be held in Birmingham, Swansea, Taunton, Belfast, Glasgow and Harrogate between 3 and 13 June.