Countryside threatened by GM pollen - GM pollen contaminated crop 4 km away says seed company

Advanta, the company at the centre of the recent seed contamination scandal told a committee of MPs today [1] that the separation distances between its conventional oil seed rape crops in Canada and genetically modified crops was 4000 metres - 80 times the separation distances used in the UK. In a press release issued at the time the Government said that the crops "appear to have been affected by growing too close to GM rapeseed". Friends of the Earth greeted the news by renewing its call for the Government to halt outdoor testing of genetically modified (GM) crops.

The UK Government last year endorsed a voluntary Code of Practice with the biotech industry whereby the separation distances are only 50 metres between conventional and GM crops (200 metres for seed production). The industry is currently looking for sites to grow GM winter oilseed rape as part of the Government's farm-scale trial programme. The first site has already been announced in Lincolnshire (Thorganby TF 207 968).

Adrian Bebb, Real Food Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said: "This is a staggering revelation. To continue with the outdoor testing of GM crops in this country puts conventional farmers and the environment at an unacceptable risk. The Government must immediately suspend the farm-scale trials pending a thorough investigation into separation distances. It is clear that the public have been sold a pup by the biotech industry. How much longer will the Government allow these companies to gamble with our countryside?"

NOTES TO EDITORS: [1] House of Commons Agriculture Select Committee hearing into the seed contamination incident (18 July 2000).

Contact:

Adrian Bebb

Food and Biotechnology Campaigner

Friends of the Earth

Tel 0113 242 8153

Fax 0113 242 8154