The first GM 'superweed' has been discovered in the UK. A GM version of charlock, a common weed, was found by Government-sponsored researchers in a field used for GM crop trials.
The plant was found growing the year after one of the controversial Farm Scale Evaluations of GM oilseed rape. It was resistant to the weedkiller used in the trial, and contained the gene inserted into the GM crop.
The discovery raises serious concerns about the impact of growing GM oilseed rape in the UK. It comes less than a month after the UK tried to persuade other EU countries to lift their own bans on growing GM oilseed rape.
The Government's trials have already shown that growing GM crops can harm wildlife. Now we're seeing the real possibility of GM superweeds being created, with serious consequences for farmers and the environment
Emily Diamand, GM Campaigner,
Friends of the Earth
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