London (1.1.09)
– For years there has been ongoing resentment among plant scientists
and farmers that anti-GM vandals and saboteurs have been able to destroy a
number of test plots and often escape virtually scot-free, even on those occasions
when they are apprehended and brought before the law. In a famous case some
years ago, 28 people were charged with damaging a field of maize and also
accused of stealing a quantity of maize (1). In their defence, the accused
said they had a lawful excuse to destroy the maize because they believed neighbouring
crops were in need of protection (2). The jury in the case cleared the defendants
of those charges failed to reach a verdict on a further charge of criminal
damage (3).
Those running the trials have felt that part of the problem lies in the requirement
under existing UK laws that full details of every GM crop trial must be disclosed,
with a six-figure grid reference identifying the precise location of the field
(4, 5).
The Government is now beginning to recognise that the problem cannot be resolved
by fencing and low-level security at the site (6). Short of calling out the
army, something else needs to be done. Professor Howard Atkinson in charge
of a GM potato trial at the University of Leeds said: “Is it appropriate
for universities to put up security that will cost a six figure sum to protect
research from unlawful acts by zealots? We are not going to pursue the cyst
nematode trials at the moment. I am not sure what the future holds for GM
trials. I can only see two solutions. The first would be to have the Government
regulate and assess trials but not publish their location or, and I think
this is less likely, to have some sort of nationally secure trial field."
There are reports (7) that ministers are drawing up plans for GM-crops to
be grown in secret and more secure locations to prevent trials being wrecked
by saboteur. Suggestions include asking the police to target opponents of
GM crops in the way that they have cracked down on animal rights protesters
or for the controversial crops to be grown at a secure government site such
as Porton Down near Salisbury, which carries out military research and includes
a science park where they could be securely developed away from the public.
The Secretary of State said: "We need to see if they [GM foods] have
a contribution to make and we won't know the answer about their environmental
impact unless we run controlled experiments. It's important to go with the
science”, while an unidentified government source added: "We need
to review the security arrangements. The rules are a charter for people who
want to stop the experiments. A lot of information has to be put in the public
domain and that makes it very easy for people to trash them."
We shall see – that was six weeks ago, with nothing since.
Sources:
1. Melchett is sent for trial on GM charge. The Independent (21.9.99)
(http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990921/ai_n14252378/pg_1)
2. Melchett's 'duty' to harm GM crops. BBC News (5.4.00) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/703085.stm)
3. Sean O'Neill (20.4.00). Greenpeace farm raiders cleared of stealing
GM crops. Daily Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/04/20/ngm20.html)
4. GM Inspectorate (29.9.08). Current awareness of experimental and commercial;
releases of GM crops worldwide. Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (http://
www.gm-inspectorate.gov.uk/reportsPublications/documents/GM_crops_routine_surveillance_Sep_07_to_Aug_08.pdf)
5. Proposed spring GM crop trial sites published. Department Of The
Environment, Transport And The Regions (National) (28.2.01) (http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?NewsAreaID=2&ReleaseID=22041)
6. Richard Gray (30.7.08). GM crop trial halted after crop destruction.
Daily Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/3348285/GM-crop-trial-halted-after-crop-destruction.html)
7. Andrew Grice (17.11.08). Government to defy critics with secret GM
crop trials. Daily Telegraph (http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/government-to-defy-critics-with-secret-gm-crop-trials-1021675.html)
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