You are visiting
www.rawfoodinfo.com

the Independent
October 2005

Genetically Engineered Crops "Ruin Fields for 15 Years"
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor


GM crops contaminate the countryside for up to 15 years after they have been harvested, startling new government research shows.

The findings cast a cloud over the prospects of growing the modified crops in Britain, suggesting that farmers who try them out for one season will find fields blighted for a decade and a half.

Financed by GM companies and Margaret Beckett's Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the report effectively torpedoes the Government's strategy for introducing GM oilseed rape to this country.

Ministers have stipulated that the crops should not be grown until rules are worked out to enable them to "co-exist" with conventional ones. But the research shows that this is effectively impossible.

The study, published by the Royal Society, examined five sites across England and Scotland where modified oilseed rape has been cultivated, and found significant amounts of GM plants growing even after the sites had been returned to ordinary crops. It concludes that the research reveals "a potentially serious problem associated with the temporal persistence of rape seeds in soil."

The researchers found that nine years after a single modified crop, an average of two GM rape plants would grow in every square metre of an affected field. After 15 years, this came down to one plant per square metre - still enough to break the EC limits on permissible GM contamination.

Last night Pete Riley, the director of GM Freeze, said; "It is becoming clearer and clearer that it is going to be impossible to grow GM crops in Britain."

*****************************************************


This GMO news service is underwritten by a generous grant from the Newman's Own Foundation, edited by Thomas Wittman and is a production of the Ecological Farming Association www.eco-farm.org <http://www.eco-farm.org/

Back to Articles/Biotechnology

Top of the Page

Rhio' raw energy website - extensive information on the raw and living food lifestyle Home raw and living foods events: vegetarian and organic foods preparation classes New to Raw? raw and living foods events: vegetarian and organic foods preparation classes Hotline genetically engineered foods, food Irradiation, organic foods, environmental pollution Action Forum raw and living foods: gourmet uncooked vegan and vegetarian food recipes Rhio's Book raw and living foods: gourmet uncooked vegan and vegetarian food recipes Shopping raw and living foods recipes: gourmet uncooked vegetarian and vegan cuisine Recipes
raw and living food, people and events worldwide Pictures
Information about live and raw foods, vegan, vegatarian and organic foods by listening to talks and lectures via audio files Articles
health books, juicers, dehydrators, air & water purifiers, raw and living food supplies Real Letters
raw and living food, people and events worldwide Directories
raw and living food, people and events worldwide What's New?
Information about live and raw foods, vegan, vegatarian and organic foods by listening to talks and lectures via audio files Multi/Media
raw and living foods events: vegetarian and organic foods preparation classes Events raw and living foods events: vegetarian and organic foods preparation classes Press/Media
raw and living foods and health foods links: humanitarian, earth-friendly, animal-friendly Links
contact Rhio, a leading proponent of the raw and living food movement Free Stuff
contact Rhio, a leading proponent of the raw and living food movement Email Rhio