Pressure Cancels Controversial GE Crop Trial in UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1343000/1343657.stm

Tuesday, 22 May, 2001, 07:40 GMT 08:40 UK
GM crop trial abandoned
BBC

A genetically modified crop trial in the UK that campaigners said would
threaten a nearby organic research centre has been abandoned.

Environmental groups welcomed reports that the agricultural industry body
which chooses trial sites had decided to withdraw a maize crop trial planned
for Wolston, near the Henry Doubleday Research Association Ryton Organic
Garden, in Warwickshire.

Scimac (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops) had come
under pressure to abandon the trial from groups such as Friends of the
Earth, the Soil Association and the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds.

In a statement, Scimac said the trial had been abandoned in "direct
response" to a request from Michael Meacher, the minister responsible for
the UK Government's trials programme.

Scimac said Mr Meacher was concerned that the project could damage public
confidence in future GM trials and in the organic site.

'No risk'

The statement said: "Mr Meacher's request was based on concerns that the
publicity surrounding this site was potentially damaging to public
confidence in the farm-scale evaluations programme and the reputation of
Ryton Organic Gardens. Scimac recognises the significance of both issues."

But it added: "Scimac has consistently maintained that there was no legal or
scientific basis not to proceed with this trial, and no risk to the organic
status of Ryton Organic Gardens."

Scimac and the government insist they are still committed to GM trials.
Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, said he was delighted the
Wolston crop would not be planted.

"We remain implacably opposed to the trial sites programme and believe that
in the long run the GM trials are a threat not just to organic farming, but
also to any farmer who wants to farm free from the risk of GM
contamination," he said.

He said the agriculture industry needed to map out a non-GM and sustainable
future for farming in this country.

'Bungling'

Conservationists feared that pollen from the herbicide-tolerant maize could
contaminate plants at the Ryton Organic Garden.

Dr Mark Avery, conservation director of the RSPB, had threatened to withdraw
his organisation from the scientific steering committee of the farm-scale
evaluations of GM crops unless the Wolston trial was abandoned.

He said Scimac was "bungling" the handling of the trials, and planting the
crop would have resulted in direct conflict with organic farmers.

The maize crop had received European Union approval, but was part of the
voluntary agreement between government and industry that ensures no
commercial release of GM crops until the field-scale trials are complete.

Election issue

Professor Chris Pollock, chairman of the scientific steering committee, last
week wrote to Mr Meacher saying that his committee did not have the
expertise to advise on distances in relation to pollination of other sites
such as the Ryton centre.

He warned that the loss of any site without replacement made it more
difficult for the farm-scale evaluation programme to meet its original
scientific aims and objectives. The Conservatives also put pressure on the
government over the GM maize crop and pledged to halt the trial if they got
into power.

Mr Meacher said on Monday he was pleased Scimac had withdrawn the site and
that all parties had secured their objectives.

"Scimac has responded positively to public concerns which have restored
greater confidence in the farm-scale evaluation programme," he said.

"I remain strongly committed to the completion of this programme because
Britain urgently needs an independent test on the impact of GM technology on
the environment."