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GM crop trials are a waste of taxpayers' money
8 June 2010
Commenting on the GM potato crop trials in Norfolk, Friends of the Earth's Food Campaigner Kirtana Chandrasekaran said:
"The Government is wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers' money by forging ahead with unnecessary and unpopular GM crop trials, which threaten local farmers with contamination.
"The largest scientific farming study every conducted saw no clear role for GM crops in feeding the world - and their roll-out in other countries reveals that they benefit big business, not local farmers or hungry people.
"In South America, vast GM soy plantations are wiping out rainforests and devastating farming communities to provide animal feed for factory farms in the UK.
"We can feed a growing global population without trashing the planet or resorting to factory farms and GM crops - the Government must help farmers shift to planet-friendly farming."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. 2008's IAASTD Agricultural Assessment showed no clear role for GM crops.
http://www.agassessment.org/reports/IAASTD/EN/Agriculture%20at%20a%20Crossroads_Global%20Summary%20for%20Decision%20Makers%20%28English%29.pdf
2. Friends of the Earth has tabled a Sustainable Livestock Bill and will be working with MPs in the new Parliament to make it law www.fixthefoodchain.co.uk
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2010
