March 5, 2004

UK Approve Planting Of GM Crops

The British cabinet has approved the planting of genetically modified corn, with commercial planting expected to begin next spring.

Members of the Cabinet approved the planting of the first GM crop in Britain after Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, made a case for giving the go-ahead for a strain of GM corn to be grown under strict controls.

Downing Street indicated yesterday that the Cabinet had accepted her proposal after "the importance of the primacy of science" was underlined. Although Tony Blair, who was in Italy, was absent from the cabinet meeting, a formal announcement to MPs on the decision is to be made by Mrs Beckett next week.

Mrs Beckett is expected to tell MPs next week that the Government will give the green light for GM corn to be grown, subject to approval of the seed and pesticide that would be used. Yesterday sources close to Mrs Beckett said the approvals would not be granted in time for this year's planting, but the crop could be grown next spring.

The decision to allow the planting of a GM corn produced by the German chemicals giant Bayer has been taken in spite of a series of reports produced by the Government itself last summer which showed serious economic and scientific problems with GM, and very substantial public hostility.

It is well-known that the GM plant under consideration as the first candidate for commercial growth in Britain is a corn to be used as cattle fodder, technical name Chardon LL T25. This has been genetically engineered by Bayer to be tolerant of a powerful herbicide called Liberty (scientific name glufosinate ammonium). All of the GM crops which have been proposed for commercial growth in Britain are modified to be herbicide-tolerant, and it is this that has caused the controversy - because the extra-powerful weedkillers they can withstand are seen as a further threat to farmland wildlife, which has been severely depleted by intensive farming over the past 40 years.