Archived press release

Approval for GM potato trial criticised

14 May 2007

Friends of the Earth has criticised today's Government approval for a site in East Yorkshire to be used by biotech giant BASF, to grow GM potatoes [1]. Permission has been given despite widespread opposition from local farmers and residents and fears over the impact that the GM potatoes may pose to neighbouring borage crops.

Farmers near the East Yorkshire trial farm are concerned about the threat that the GM potato trial poses to their borage crops. According to local reports, the farmer due to grow the experimental GM potatoes has indicated that he may not take part in the trials because of these concerns. Failure to resolve this issue means that the trials will not be planted this year.

The GM potato trials are also opposed by the British Potato Council and chip manufacturer McCain.

Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner, Clare Oxborrow, said:

"The Government has given the go-ahead to this GM potato trial despite widespread local opposition and fears about the impact on neighbouring borage farmers. If this trial goes ahead it will not only risk a huge financial blow for local farmers, but also threatens to contaminate future non-GM potato supplies. Conventional breeding already produces blight-resistant potato varieties. The risks and costs of trialling GM potatoes are too high; especially for a product that no-one wants."

"We are pleased that the trial is not going ahead this year because concerns about the impact on local farmers have not been resolved. But the best solution would be to abandon the trial completely."

Borage is a high value crop grown to produce starflower oil for health food supplements and skincare products. Local borage growers fear massive financial losses if the GM trial goes ahead because beekeepers (whose bees are vital to help pollinate the borage crop and produce speciality borage honey) do not want to bring their hives into the fields for fear that their honey will be contaminated. One borage farmer alone estimates that this could result in a £50,000 loss. Companies like Rowse Honey and Sainsbury's require beekeepers supplying them with honey to place their hives at least six miles away from any trial site [2].

The GM potato trial has faced intense local opposition. Both East Riding District Council and Hedon Town council have voted against the trials. And local MP Graham Stuart, who supports the borage farmers, believes that BASF's proposals had been rushed and that the trial shouldn't go ahead this year. Furthermore, a local petition against the trial has attracted hundreds of signatures.

Last December the Government approved trials for a GM potato at a site in Cambridge.

FOE press release: Honey fears may scupper4 GM potato trial

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