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GM FARMERS PULL OUT OF TRIALS

23 Mar 2000

The Government's GM Farm Scale Trials programme was in disarray today after two farmers, due to take part in the scheme, said that they would not participate. Friends of the Earth welcomed the news and called on other farmers to think again.

Last week the Government announced the location of 31 locations where contracts had been signed to grow farm scale trials of GM crops. However Friends of the Earth has learnt that two farmers have said that they will not participate.

SCIMAC (The industry body organising the trials) have confirmed that 2 sites have pulled out. They are:

• Friskney Tofts, Lincolnshire (TF 506 542). A local farmer told BBC Lincolnshire today that he was not taking part in the trials despite indicating earlier that he might.He said that he had not signed a contract.
• Ulleskelf, Yorkshire (SE522 389). A local farmer apparently due to take part in the trials today told FOE that the trial “had been abandoned”.
• And an article in today's East Anglian Daily Times referring to a third site ( Brockford Green TM125 650) says “Patrick Hitchcock of Shrublands Farm,Brockford Green, wishes it to be known that he is not involved in a trial of genetically modified oilseed rape, as a map in Saturday's EADT may have suggested.Brockford Green/Wetheringsett was listed by Ministry of Agriculture as one of the trial sites. But Mr Hitchcock said this was misleading as he was the only farmer in Brockford Green and he had not signed up to host a GM trial"

Pete Riley, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“These GM trials are descending into farce. On Friday we were told that contracts had been signed for 31 Farm Scale Trials. It now appears that at least two of these are not going ahead. How many sites does the Government have?

We urge other farmers considering taking part in the trials to think again. These trials threaten the environment and the livelihoods of neighbouring farmers. And if GM pollution does occur farmers may find themselves liable for any damage”.

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