PA News | November 11, 1999 | Tom Kelly, PA News
The independent UK Scientific Steering Committee survey, being published today, will, according to this story, advise which species of genetically-engineered plants and animals need to be monitored, and the number of fields required while growing the crops.
The report will also confirm the sampling methods which will be used in the trials to gather accurate data for each species.
The story says that the conclusions in the report are drawn from a survey of this year's GM farm-scale trials.
Anti-GM protests have already led to one farmer pulling out of the trials and another destroying his own crops.
Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth say the main issue that needs to be addressed by the report is the problem of cross-pollination, where pollen from GM test sites is carried by bees and in the air to non-trial sites.
A report in September claimed scientists had found genetically modified pollen in beehives nearly three miles from an official trial site, despite the Government's rules that require only a 50-yard separation between GM crops and other fields.
The survey carried out by the National Pollen Research Unit at University College Worcester showed that all six beehives monitored, which were located between 500 yards and three miles from the GM oil seed rape crop, were found to contain GM pollen.
Airborne GM pollen was found up to 475 yards from the trial site.
The Scientific Steering Committee is an independent group of scientific experts responsible for overseeing the farm-scale tests.
In a subsequent story, Friends of the Earth claimed that the report did nothing to alleviate concerns that even test crops pose a threat to the environment, and the livelihoods of farmers.
Pete Riley, FoE's senior biotech campaigner, was quoted as saying, "The Government is allowing a massive increase in GM crops when hardly anyone wants to grow them, no-one wants to sell them, and no-one is prepared to buy them. These trials threaten the environment and the livelihoods of those who are trying to meet the massive demand for organic and non-GM food. The Government should think again before it's too late. The farm-scale trials are a con trick on the public".
In its first interim report, the Scientific Steering Committee's recommendations included that trial sites should be representative of the range of farming environments where these crops could be grown.
Also, that in assessing the impact on biodiversity, research should focus on species groups that are indicative of long-term change, and of change higher up the food chain - such as weeds, seeds, snails, caterpillars and beetles.
Professor Pollock was quoted as saying, "The committee has scrutinised the results of this year's farm-scale trials. We are now satisfied that the methodology is scientifically robust, and that we have a firm base from which to proceed to full-scale trials next year."
