Probe call after GM oilseed rape sown by mistake

Author: Tim Pauling

Publication: The Press and Journal

Date: Sunday, September 14, 2008

Via: AgBios

The debate over genetically-modified crops has erupted again after it was revealed they had been mistakenly sown in Tayside and Grampian.

Environment Minister Michael Russell said the incident posed a “serious risk” to the environment. Green campaigners expressed their horror and called for an investigation to ensure it did not happen again.

It was revealed yesterday that trial sowings of a new variety of oilseed rape at two sites in Aberdeenshire and one near Arbroath were found to contain small amounts of unauthorised genetically-modified (GM) material.

Further sowings of the seed have been stopped. The plants at the three trial sites will be destroyed as will the remaining seeds.

It is understood the seeds came from America where the use of GM crops is widespread.

Mr Russell said: “Had these plants been allowed to mature, the risk to the environment could have been very serious.

“This further emphasises the continuing need for rigorous controls on GM material and for Scotland to remain a GM crop-free zone.

“The Scottish Government is working with stakeholders to understand how this occurred and to ensure that it never happens again.”

Aberdeen City Council deputy leader Kevin Stewart, a key member behind the now-defunct Grampian Against GM, said he was “horrified” by the incident but glad action had been taken quickly to destroy the crop.

“This could have been extremely serious and could have resulted in cross-contamination elsewhere,” he said. “I think this quite clearly shows that the GM companies have not got this right and it is appalling that ordinary, normal seeds are being contaminated by GM seeds.”

Another anti-GM campaigner, Aberdeen North SNP MSP Brian Adam, said he was not confident seeds from the US were GM-free.

“I think it will give Scotland’s agriculture an edge, in terms of marketing, in being GM-free, but these incidents are not helpful,” he said.

Friends of the Earth Scotland director Duncan McLaren said: “There must be an urgent investigation to find out how this incident occurred, how it can be prevented from happening again, and what guarantees can be given that it is not part of a wider problem.”

But farmers said GM crops may help guarantee food security.

A spokeswoman for NFU Scotland said: “NFU Scotland agrees the current EU rules relating to cultivation of GM crops should not be breached. However, the time has clearly come for there to be a sensible and scientifically-based discussion on the role of biotechnology in agriculture.”

SOURCE: THE PRESS AND JOURNAL

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