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26 Feb 2001
The next round of genetically modified farm scale trials is under threat following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
Sixty four GM sites are due to be named later this week, but the Government is believed to be considering their immediate future as concern over foot and mouth deepens. Ecological research was badly hit during the last outbreak in 1967, and may be severely affected if the epidemic worsens.
The main concern would be GM fodder maize and fodder beet which should (in theory) be grown on mixed farms or livestock farms. However, all the trials are potentially under threat.
Pete Riley, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“The foot and mouth disaster is having implications in the most unexpected areas. If this epidemic takes hold as it did in1967, the GM farm scale trials could be under threat. The last thing farming needs is for the foot and month situation to be made worse by scientists travelling between farms to carrying out research on crops no one wants to buy. And if the ecological evaluations can't be carried out, there would be no reason for the GM trials to go ahead.”
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
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