GMorganic risk

15 March 2002

GMorganic risk

OVER 100 organic farms are at risk of contamination from nearby trials of genetically modified (GM) crops, the Soil Association as warned.

It estimates that crops on 111 organic farms could be contaminated by pollen from 44 fields due to be planted with GM oil-seed rape, sugar beet and fodder beet.

The association is calling for buffer zones around trial crops to be increased to prevent pollution by the spread of GM pollen.

A European Commission recommendation for a 5km maximum buffer zone between GM and similar crops was 25 times higher than the UK governments recommendation of a 200m buffer zone, he said. &#42