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GM Farmer destroys own crop
7 June 1999
The farm was in the news earlier in the year when Friends of the Earth revealed that the GM crop had been planted, despite the fact that the company responsible for the crop,AgrEvo, had failed to advertise the planting in a local paper as required by Government regulations.
Pete Riley, Food campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“The destruction of this crop is further evidence of the increasing concern over GM crops. Whilst Friends of the Earth is not opposed in principle to scientific trials of GM crops we believe that the current farm-scale trials and the other GM tests taking place around the UK pose an unacceptable risk to the environment and will not provide the information neccesary to prove their safety or otherwise. The Government should be better trustees of the countryside and call a five year freeze on GM food and crops. GM trials should only take place under strict controls.”
Jean Saunders of Swindon Friends of the Earth said:
“Local people will be delighted that Mr Barker has destroyed this crop - we have had unprecedented support in the town since we discovered that he was growing GM crops some weeks ago. We believe that, in AgrEvo's rush to push ahead with this first farm-scale trial, Captain Barker was badly advised about the dangers of genetic pollution. We congratulate the trustees for taking the cautious approach and stopping this trial.”
Friends of the Earth has a number of concerns with the farm-scale trials and the GM trial sites currently being grown around the country. These include inadequate pollen barriers to protect neighbouring farmers and wildlife, failure to consult adequately on the scientific design of the trials and failure to survey wildlife before the trials started.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
