Government proposes to trash GM trials

In a bizarre twist, the Government today admitted that they may order the de-flowering of GM crops involved in the farm scale trials for winter oilseed rape.

In announcing that the approval for the GM winter oilseed rape farm-scale trials, the Government has admitted that certain non GM varieties which are more susceptible to cross pollination will require extra protection. They may order that pollination of the GM crops be prevented next spring.

The Government has also failed to heed the warnings about the cross pollination of crops by GM crops following the contamination of oilseed rape seed in Canada and is to push ahead with the GM farm-scale trials for winter oilseed rape without accepting the need for massive separation distance to neighbouring crops.

"The farm scale trials have become a joke. The Government has condemned people for cutting down crops to protect neighbouring farmers and yet they now suggest that they may do it themselves," said Friends of the Earth Real Food Campaigner Pete Riley. "The time has come to abandon the trials because its obvious the chances that GM crops will ever be able to be grown commercially without causing real economic damage to neighbouring arable farmers and beekeepers are next to none."