b'and the EU Common Catalogue for protection and access tothe other hand too, by imposing a regulatory barrier to the plant markets? We have been strong in representing our membersbreeding industrys potential to deliver genetic alternativesas views to government, in bringing information back and getting itquickly as the science might allow. It seems bizarre that we out to our members as fast as we possibly can so that they candepend completely on farmers for food production but have digest it and decide what actions they need to take.taken a series of regulatory decisions that make it much harder BSPB members were all very well prepared for the 29th offor them to do this. March and had taken steps to prevent any disruption in supplyIt excites me to be able to work at a national level to give our to customers. But then, of course, we didnt leave. So right now,plant breeders the opportunity to use this science and give farm-it is quite difficult to be able to advise members on what to do.ers and consumers new products which they desperately need. The real issue now is the complete uncertainty: Are we leaving?Editors Note: The UK election was held Dec. 12th. Results were When are we leaving? On what terms are we leaving? unavailable before press time. The direction of Brexit may have changed due to a possible change in leadership in the UK.SWSW: 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 pos-sible ways out of the mess, but very dangerous politically for the country. 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 government, to govern-ment 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. Once you do have that information, as a company you need to look at your business model, consider the different scenarios, 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. SW: 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 heard the expression that plant breeding started with crossing the best and hoping for the bestand here we are now, able to make very precise edits in individual genes. When I look in the fields now, I can see sugar beet crops grow-ing in their first year without neonicotinoid seed treatments and cereals about to go the same way but with very little if anything yet available by way of the resistant varieties that farmers now desperately need because they dont have access to chemistry to help them avoid the problems of virus infec-tion. In Europe we have tied one hand behind the farmers back by taking away his chemical options and then inPenny Maplestoneone deft move by the European Court we have tied JANUARY 2020SEEDWORLD.COM /43'