Warwickshire GM Maize Trial Threatens World-Renowned Organic Centre25 April 2001
A GM maize trial has been proposed at Wolston, Warwickshire, less than two miles from Ryton Organic Gardens, the long-established headquarters of the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA), the organic organisation. The trial threatens the organic status of the gardens, which attract 1,000s of visitors each year, and where HDRA conducts research for the Government.
"We are very disturbed by this news. The land has been cultivated organically since 1985. We have always grown sweetcorn here at Ryton, and bees are kept on the site, so there is a serious risk of cross-pollination," said a spokesperson for the HDRA. "If the trial goes ahead we could lose our organic certification. We use our produce in our restaurant and sell it through our shop, so we must retain our Soil Association registration.
"The HDRA has not been consulted about the trial, and first heard about it through the local radio station. "We will be contacting the DETR, asking them to abandon the test site, at the earliest opportunity, and are also considering legal action," the spokesperson said.
Maize is sown at the end of April or beginning of May, so the organisation has an insufficient amount of time to take any action.
HDRA is Europe's largest organic organisation with an international membership. It researches and promotes organic gardening, farming and food.
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