No Place to Hide from GM Crops

The Government's policy on genetically modified (GM) crop tests was in disarray following the publication of research about the risks of cross-pollination of conventional plants by GM crops.

The research, conducted for the Government by the John Innes Centre at Norwich, showed that pollen can travel several miles. This means that the "buffer zones" around GM test sites are completely ineffective. Recently the Government endorsed a voluntary set of industry guidelines (SCIMAC) which set separation distances between GM and non-GM and organic crops. The separation distances are as little as 200m for organic oilseed rape and forage maize. For conventional crops the distance falls to 50m for oilseed.

The revelation makes a mockery of the Government's promise to protect the interests of organic farmers. Organic produce is not allowed to contain any GM material, which means that farmers whose crops are contaminated face losing their organic certification.

Friends of the Earth has said that the only way to guarantee that organic crops will not be contaminated is to keep GM crops out altogether. Campaigners say that a six mile buffer zone may be needed to prevent bees carrying pollen to organic and other non-GM crops. Friends of the Earth has released a map showing that there are approximately 92 organic farms within six miles of the current 140 GM-crop test sites organic farms in the UK; only a few areas of lowland Britain escape the buffer zones.