Shadow DEFRA Secretary of State Mary Creagh was in Cambridge to visit the world-leading Sainsbury Laboratory. She was shown the building and laboratory by the Director, Professor Ottoline Leyser, and also met Professor Chris Gilligan, Head of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Cambridge who is the  Chair of the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce for a discussion on their work on ash dieback disease.

Daniel says: “I suggested that Mary Creagh visit the Sainsbury Laboratory because I think she is likely to be a key figure in any future Labour Government and it is really important that decision makers have direct access to expertise.  As policy-makers  look to a future when oil supplies dwindle, better understanding of plants and how they can be further developed to sustain human life is vital.  The Sainsbury Laboratory is a world leader in developing this understanding -; creating an ongoing dialogue with politicians who will be making key decisions affecting our food and environment is very valuable.”