Potato Trials in the UK this Spring

The government has confirmed that GM potato trials will begin in the UK this coming spring. The potatoes will be grown by BASF science (Germany), the world’s leading chemical company, in two vegetable fields in the UK. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that the trials will begin from 31st of March 2007 in Derbyshire, and that a second trial is now planned for a farm in East Riding, Yorkshire.
These potatoes contain a gene from a wild potato in hope to make a new breed which is resistant to blight. This is a disease that can cost growers £70m a year.
The trials will last for many years. The communication manager from BASF Chris Wilson says that no potatoes from these trials will be eaten. The crops are just there to be carefully monitored and then destroyed.
According to the Network of Concerned Farmers, non GM farmers are expected to keep contamination out of their crops rather than the GM farmers keeping it contained. This doesn’t seem fair when you consider that farmers are at risk of being sued by the Trade Practises Act for delivering a contaminated crop.
Studies have proven that pollen from GM plants can easily be moved and carried by the wind for tens of kilometres. Many are wondering if the trials are really necessary. Friends of the Earth, GM campaigner, Clare Oxborrow said: “The GM trials pose a significant contamination threat to future potato crops. We don't need GM potatoes and there is no consumer demand for them.” However, a spokesman from DEFRA argued; “There are specified conditions for the trials. The crops will be grown a certain distance apart to prevent cross-pollination.”
A large number of field trials carried out by governments, including the U.K. have proved that the cross-pollination and gene transfer does happen. A particular study in 2002 showed that transgenes had spread from US to traditional maize varieties in Mexico. DEFRA’s spokesmen admitted: “We can not be one hundred percent sure that cross-pollination wont take place, what we do know is that even if it was to happen, it would not effect the actual food we eat as it only effects the seeds.”
Farmers in the UK still fear that their crops could be affected by the GM trials and are not happy with the new go-ahead.
After eight years of conducted studies, research has shown that Monsanto GM potatoes caused; “Considerable damage to organs of rats in the study, with weight loss on their hearts and prostate glands.” However, the rats in other groups that were fed normal potatoes or a non potato diet, showed to be a lot healthier with much less organ and tissue damage. The Soil Association has said: “The Monsanto findings are a great cause for alarm. Three potato trials have already been conducted, all of which came out with negative effects.”