Date published: 2012/05/06
The BBC says:
Scientists developing genetically modified wheat are asking campaigners not to ruin their experimental plots, but come in for a chat instead.
The trial at Rothamsted Research in Harpenden, Herts, uses wheat modified to deter aphids, an insect pest.
The protest group Take the Flour Back has vowed to "decontaminate" the site unless the research is halted.
The scientists say the GM plants could benefit the environment as they will reduce pesticide use.
"We appeal to you as environmentalists," they write in an open letter.
"Our GM wheat could, for future generations, substantially reduce the use of agricultural chemicals."
But the campaigners say the GM trial presents "a clear risk to British farming".
They argue that genes from the modified strain could spread into neighbouring fields, and that there has been no evaluation of whether foods made from the GM variety would be safe to eat.
They are planning a day of action on 27 May, trailed on their website as "a nice day out in the country, with picnics, music... and a decontamination".
The ridiculous vandals of "Take the Flour Back" should be sent straight to prison. Unfortunate they are academic middle class vandals, and so the UK justice system generally gives them a free pass to vandalise all they want. Hopefully this time the police will at least take appropriate action.
It is unbelievable that these vandals can say with a straight face: "there has been no evaluation of whether foods made from the GM variety would be safe to eat." Hmmm, possibly that could be because silly spoiled academic middle class vandals have trashed many field trials, at least in the UK. Of course in most of the rest of the world, aside from backwards Europe, there is plenty of evidence that GM food is as safe to eat as any other.
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