FSTs destroyed
The Genetic Engineering Network (GEN) has received reports that six Government Farm Scale Trials (FSTs) of genetically modified crops have been destroyed or substantially damaged.
The trials are:-
- Wivenhoe, Essex (one of two maize trials in Wivenhoe) - 70% deliberately destroyed;
- Broadway, Dorset (maize) - 60% deliberately destroyed;
- Winterbourne Monkton, Dorset (oilseed rape) - 65% deliberately destroyed;
- Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire (oilseed rape) - 100% destroyed, possibly in error by incorrect application of herbicide;
- Hutton Magna, Durham, (oilseed rape) - 30% deliberately destroyed;
- Hinton Waldrist, Oxfordshire, (maize) - 50% deliberately destroyed.
A communique from the group that destroyed the Wivenhoe GM maize crop stated “The GM Farm Scale Trials are not genuine environmental assessments. They are a means of spreading irreversible genetic contamination in the countryside, a cynical attempt to reduce public opposition to the proposed commercial growing of GM in Britain. The “scientists” who take part in these biased and dangerous “evaluations” should be ashamed of themselves.”
GEN 020 76900626 genetics@gn.apc.org