Professor Malcolm Grant, chairman of the independent Steering Board running the debate, said today (Wednesday) "We’re providing the toolkit for debates at every kind of level - a video, a CD ROM, an interactive web-site, a booklet, meeting formats background material, and expert facilitators on demand.

"We know many organisations and individuals are already planning their debates and discussions. We are keen for other groups to make a start – book the church hall or a room over the pub – and give us a ring to get hold of the debate materials. The GM Nation number to ring is 0207-261-8616.

Professor Grant will be launching the debate in London at the beginning of June. The launch is to be followed immediately by the keynote regional conferences. The timetable is:

Birmingham – June 3

Swansea – June 5

Taunton – June 7

Belfast – June 9

Glasgow – June 11

The keynote conferences are to run in parallel with regional and local debates in partnership with local authorities and other national and local organisations, running through June and the first half of July, across the country.

After the results from all levels of the debate have been collated the independent GM Debate Steering Board will produce a high-profile national report – due to go to Government by the end of September. Government has committed itself to make a written response to the debate report and to take account of the outcome from the public debate when making future policy decisions on GM issues.

For FoodFen companies that can’t attend the nearest GM debate (Birmingham) then why not vote in our GM survey? Click here