GM trials on verge of collapse – claim
14 June 2000
GM trials on verge of collapse – claim
by Donald MacPhail
GENETICALLY modified crops trials are on the verge of collapse after the decision by another farmer to pull out, claim environmentalists.
The loss of an GM oilseed rape trial site at Itchen Abbas, Hants — the ninth to be lost since April — reduces numbers to the bare minimum to be viable, claims Greenpeace.
The biotechnology company Aventis, which was running the trial, said the farmer pulled out for “operational reasons”.
There are now only 12 trial sites for oilseed rape and maize — the lowest number recommended by the governments scientific steering committee.
However, the department of the environment insists the trials will proceed and will yield useful data despite losses.
Greenpeace GM campaigner Sarah North claimed the trials were not about science but a political exercise to persuade the public to accept GM food.
“You dont have to be a rocket scientist to see that the loss of this site has left the scientific faade crumbling and the trials are on the verge of collapse.
“If any more sites go the whole programme will be scientifically invalidated and the government will have to give up the game.”
But a spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment said the committees threshold figure made allowance for some losses.
She added: “There is no question of the trials being abandoned even if more drop out because the data collected will contribute to the overall project.”
The trials of GM beet, maize and oilseed rape are due to continue until 2003. The scientific committee originally hoped for 25 trial sites of each crop this year.
In addition to the maize and oilseed rape trials there are 24 beet trial currently taking place.
Meanwhile, environmentalists Friends of the Earth Cymru claim Aventis is considering applying to grow GM winter oilseed rape in Wales.
Last month the Welsh Assembly approved a motion calling for Wales to adopt a GM-free policy, although it is unclear if this can have a practical effect.
This followed an outcry after Aventis drilled GM maize in Flintshire without the assemblys authorisation.
An Aventis spokesman said the company was considering applications as matter of procedure for trial sites in England Scotland and Wales.
He said it was extremely unlikely an application would be made to hold a trial in Wales because virtually no winter oilseed rape was grown there.
The only circumstances under which he could foresee Aventis running a winter oilseed rape trial in Wales would be if government scientists insisted on it.