GM decision a slap in face Jones
21 May 2001
GM decision a ‘slap in face’ — Jones
By FWi staff
WELSH rural affairs minister Carwyn Jones has described a farmers decision to proceed with a genetically modified crop trial as a “slap in the face”.
John Cottle, who farms near Sealand in Flintshire, announced on Monday (21 May) that he would press on with the GM maize trial.
This was despite attempts by Mr Jones to persuade him to pull out after the National Assembly for Wales voted for Wales to be GM-free.
Mr Cottle announced that he given the matter deep consideration, but was convinced of the benefits of herbicide-resistant maize.
He argued that the technology was in fact less harmful to wildlife than conventional products.
But Mr Jones was left disappointed. “It is a slap in the face for the whole Assembly,” he told BBC Wales.
He admitted that while the Assembly could vote to be GM-free as it did not have the absolute power of an independent state it could not enforce this.
Friends of the Earth Cymru described the decision as “outrageous”.
“This shows the disregard that both the farmer and biotech industry have for local opinion and the national assembly,” said campaigner Neil Crumpton.
Mr Cottle is running the only GM trial in Wales after Tony Marlow, a former Tory MP, and his business partner Jill Chambers pulled out earlier this month.
They abandoned trials at Castle Cenlas farm near Mathry after opposition from local organic farmers, residents and environmental groups.
In a statement, the partners blamed a “deceitful and distorted campaign of misinformation” aimed at conventional farmers.
|
FREE NEWS UPDATE |
 |
Farm e-Business Survey. Click here to enter and win 100 Amazon vouchers |
|