GM potato crop fear at farm near Tadcaster | Checkbiotech

Home | Contact Us | Partnership | Site Map

left shadow

Checkbiotech - for emerging fields of science

NEWSLETTERS SUBMIT CONTENT

Checkbiotech Home

Sign In | Register

bottom shadow


	View Edit Domain: GreenBio Title: * Body: Environmental campaigners claimed today genetically modified (GM) potatoes being trialled on a North Yorkshire farm could contaminate other plants near the site.<br /> <br /> Friends Of The Earth (FOE) says there is a risk the crop, planted earlier this year in a field near Tadcaster, could pollute neighbouring vegetation.<br /> <br /> Clare Oxborrow, of FOE, said: “Farmers, gardeners and people living nearby should know about it (the trials) because of the risk of contaminating other plants.”<br /> <br /> An identical crop was destroyed last year when environmental campaigners ripped up plants on the site. FOE said it was not involved in that activity. In a bid to protect the land, fencing and CCTV cameras have been put up around the crop.<br /> <br /> A Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) spokesperson declined to say precisely where the trials were taking place, citing the destruction of the crop last year.<br /> <br /> DEFRA said the independent advisory committee on releases to the environment had confirmed the experiment would not compromise human health or the environment.<br /> <br /> The 400 potato plants are resistant to nematode worms – a pest that costs farmers an estimated £65m a year. Scientists believe the trial could lead to a cut in chemical pesticide use.<br /> <br /> DEFRA said the aim of the research, which is being conducted by the University of Leeds, was to test the performance of the potatoes and the effectiveness of the nematode resistance mechanism.<br /> <br /> A DEFRA spokesperson said it published details and map references of all GM experiments on its website. The spokesperson said: “Leeds University was granted a three-year consent to conduct a research trial on GM potatoes in May 2008, after the application was considered by the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. The potatoes in the trial will not be used for food or animal feed and the consent contains conditions to ensure GM material does not persist at the site after the trial.”<br /> <br /> Plants on land next to the potatoes will be destroyed after the experiment has finished. The field will then be left fallow – ploughed but unsown – to stop cross-pollination.<br /> <br /> © Copyright 2001-2009 The Press<br /> Captcha: Please Enter Code : * Time Zone: * Select the time zone Vocabularies Newsletter: Domain: Show summary in full view Input format Filtered HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Full HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. news_filter Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. More information about formatting options			Related Articles Bt corn farms expanding U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEF... Interview with Dr. Hambrecht Farmers battle a super-bug Improving Crops from the Roots Up Zero tolerance on GM feeds must go Scientist Leading Genetically Modified Crop Test Defends Li... BASF halts GM potato research in UK Defra calls on EU to relax GM soya rules Defra denies secret GM trials Top GreenBio Articles

Home | Partnership | Contact Us | Site Map | News Site Map
© 2000-2012 Checkbiotech.org | Disclaimer