Fears of GMcontamination in Worcs crop
Fears of GMcontamination in Worcs crop
REPORTS that a farmer was told to plough in maize he had drilled have raised fears that batches of seed could be contaminated with genetically modified material.
Unconfirmed accounts say a conventional Worcestershire producer had to hand back unused seed and destroy planted seed.
However, the Maize Growers Association and West Midlands branch of the National Farmers Union say they have heard nothing of the reports.
Last year it emerged that Advanta Seeds UK had unwittingly supplied hundreds of British farmers with GM-contaminated oilseed rape.
Advanta said that a total of 5200ha (13,000 acres)was affected by GM varieties Hyola 38, Hyola 330 and Hyola 401 and paid compensation to 334 farmers.
And there was a furore in the US when traces of the Aventis CropScience
GM maize StarLink, which was only approved for animal feed, were found in taco shells. *