Archived press release

New fears over impact of GM crops on bird populations

30 August 2000

New research from the University of East Anglia on the potentially negative effect of GM crops on bird populations is published in Science magazine tomorrow (Friday). Adrian Bebb, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth comments:

“We have argued since the beginning of the GM debate that introducing pesticide and herbicide resistant crops into the UK countryside may have disastrous environmental effects. This new research provides shocking evidence of what could happen to our fatrmland bird populations, already in sharp decline because of chemical-heavy intensive farming. By contrast recent research on organic farms showed an increase in skylark numbers.

The UEA research also reveals once again the farcical nature of the Government's so called GM “trials programme”. The research suggests that the trials will fail to pick up any of the environmental effects identified in this study. Since these are fundamental to the environmental case against GM crops, what on earth is the point of the trials? The time has come for the Government to finally call a freeze on GM crops until their safety can be guaranteed. And instead of wasting tax-payers money on dead-end GM research the Government should be investing in farm systems that grow sufficient high-quality food on wildlife-friendly land.”

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

New fears over impact of GM crops on bird populations

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