May 4, 2004

Germany Plants GM Corn In Field Test
 

Under a veil of secrecy, German farmers planted genetically modified corn in the first wide-scale field test of the seeds this week.

The corn, which has been genetically altered to make it resistant to insects, is being tested in the northeastern state of Saxony-Anhalt and other states. But a spokesman for the state's Agricultural Ministry refused this week to identify the other states or reveal the size of the planting area. Such details would apparently be announced at a news conference set for next Wednesday.

The project is part of a bio-technological campaign launched by the government in Saxony-Anhalt. The project has run into strong opposition from the environmental group Greenpeace and others. Last month, about 130 members of Greenpeace sowed several tons of organic seeds in fields at Saxony-Anhalt where genetically altered wheat was to be grown in a field test.