Protesters decontaminate the UK's last remaining GM potato trial.
Digger | 07.07.2007 11:21 | Bio-technology | Ecology | Cambridge
During the night of Friday 6th July, a group of activists converged on Britain's last remaining GM trial site just outside Cambridge. They scaled the security fences and destroyed the crop of genetically modified potatoes.
The potato plants were already flowering, spreading genetic contagion into the surrounding countryside.
A similar trial planned in Hull was abandoned earlier this year after a strong campaign and massive concern from nearby farmers. With the destruction of the Cambridge crop, Britain is once again GM free.
Public concern and demonstrations had failed to sway NIAB, the National Institute for Agriculture and Botany, who are carrying out the five-year trial on behalf of BASF, a multinational chemical corporation. Many feel that if corporations refuse to listen to public opinion it is necessary to take direct action.
Friday's action follows the latest in a series of protests, on the previous Sunday (July 1st), when demonstrators marched on the potato field. On that occasion, they were met by overwhelming numbers of police and two participants were arrested.
This time, however, no such obstacles were met, and the activists were able to successfully decontaminate the field.
If this trial had been allowed to run full term it could have led to a whole new generation of GM crop trials in this country. Friday night's events show that public concern about GM food and willingness to take direct action to keep Britain GM free remain high.
A similar trial planned in Hull was abandoned earlier this year after a strong campaign and massive concern from nearby farmers. With the destruction of the Cambridge crop, Britain is once again GM free.
Public concern and demonstrations had failed to sway NIAB, the National Institute for Agriculture and Botany, who are carrying out the five-year trial on behalf of BASF, a multinational chemical corporation. Many feel that if corporations refuse to listen to public opinion it is necessary to take direct action.
Friday's action follows the latest in a series of protests, on the previous Sunday (July 1st), when demonstrators marched on the potato field. On that occasion, they were met by overwhelming numbers of police and two participants were arrested.
This time, however, no such obstacles were met, and the activists were able to successfully decontaminate the field.
If this trial had been allowed to run full term it could have led to a whole new generation of GM crop trials in this country. Friday night's events show that public concern about GM food and willingness to take direct action to keep Britain GM free remain high.
Digger
Comments
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Biotech Scum Not Welcome!!!
07.07.2007 16:33
The UK is once again GM free, hopefully BASF will get the message that that is how things are going to stay. Congrats to everyone involved.
Restistance is fertile!
bambino
LOL -- don't know much about the potato plant?
07.07.2007 21:20
This is NOT intended in any way shape or form to be supportive of GM. In general, the release of pollen from GM plants IS a matter of concern.
But much with the potato which only very rarely manges to produce fertile seeds. You DON'T grow potato plants by planting potato seed except if you want to experiment and have managed to find one of those very rare cases where fertilization took place. In other words, please don't make us look like utter fools. GM potato pollen ISN'T going to be spreading genetic contamination unless perchance the modification the GM scientists were working on was so as to have fertile potato plants (but pretty much zero commercial value in that).
The potato is propogated by stem cuttings (the potato tuber is a modified stem, not root). If a section of potato containing at least one bud (eye) is planted, this will grow into a potat plant.
Mike Novack
e-mail:
stepbystpefarm mtdata.com
night time vist
08.07.2007 15:55
i have been involved many acountable actions to show the public we need to and can change the path we are going down.(climate, gm etc). but they don't seem to be noticing...
hit those that profit from eco destruction where they care in the pocket....
red
Tattie Bye !!
08.07.2007 18:25
BASF are you listening? No GM potatoes not now and not at any time, you are wasting your shareholders money. Plant 'em again and they'll be destroyed again. "GET ORF OF OUR LAND"
Bill
Brilliant!
09.07.2007 12:59
Spud Murphy
Rah
10.07.2007 22:51
Western pommedeterre
Just wondering...
24.07.2007 08:51
Little "rambler" seed tubers get missed easily. Destroying the plants alone would be just a symbolic gesture.
Farmer Palmer
Groovy
31.07.2007 17:23
Jesus H Christ
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