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GE - Britain's biggest farmer pulls out of gene trials

 03/30 0418 
1) Britain's biggest farmer pulls out of gene trials 
2) UK seeks (2) new gene test sites after CWS pullout
3) FOE PRESS RELEASE: UK'S BIGGEST FARMER PULLS PLUG ON GM TRIALS. 


1) Britain's biggest farmer pulls out of gene trials 
> LONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - 
Britain's biggest farmer has decided not to take part 
> in proposed new field trials of genetically modified crops. "Few 
> people 
> would disagree that what is required are properly conducted 
> scientific 
> trials to assess the environmental impact of GM crops," the 
> Co-operative 
> Wholesale Society, which farms over 80,000 acres throughout Britain, 
> said 
> in a statement. However we feel there is yet no clear consensus of 
> opinion 
> amongst the various interest groups as to how this should be 
> acheived, and 
> so we have decided not to take part," said Head of 
> Corporate Affairs Bill Shannon. We are not against GMOs 
> (Genetically Modified Organisms) in principle, but our 
> discussions with various parties led us to conclude that the 
> design of this year's trials would do little to allay current 
> environmental and consumer concerns." 
> CWS is part of the UK consumer co-operative movement, with 
> businesses ranging from supermarkets to funeral parlours. It was 
> set up by the retail co-operatives in the 19th century. 
> Britain plans tests aimed at assessing the wider impact of 
> genetically modified crops on the environment. 
> The trials will look at the effect of crops scaled up from 
> flower-bed or handkerchief sized plots to whole field size. 
> Fresh controversy over GM foods was sparked in Britain last 
> month when international scientists backed scientist Arpad 
> Pusztai, who claimed his research showed damage to rats fed on 
> genetically modified potatoes. 
============================
> 03/30 0511 
2) UK seeks (2) new gene test sites after CWS pullout
 By Christopher Lyddon LONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - 
Britain needs two new sites for 
> planned testing of genetically modified crops after Britain's 
> biggest 
> farmer decided to pull out of trials. It just means we'll have to 
> find 
> another two sites," said a spokesman for the Department of the 
> Environment, Transport and the Regions. "Few people would 
> disagree 
> that what is required are properly conducted scientific trials to 
> assess 
> the environmental impact of GM crops," the Co-operative Wholesale 
> Society, 
> which farms over 80,000 acres throughout Britain, said 
> in a statement. 
> "However we feel there is yet no clear consensus of opinion 
> amongst the various interest groups as to how this should be 
> acheived, and so we have decided not to take part," said Head of 
> Corporate Affairs Bill Shannon. "We are not against GMOs 
> (Genetically Modified Organisms) in principle, but our 
> discussions with various parties led us to conclude that the 
> design of this year's trials would do little to allay current 
> environmental and consumer concerns." 
> Declining to comment directly on the CWS decision, the 
> government spokesman said the trials had always been designed to 
> be small scale in the first year, with four sites in the Spring 
> and two in the Autumn. 
> There would be larger scale trials in 2000, based on the 
> first year's experience. 
> Greenpeace's campaigner on genetic modification, Doctor 
> Douglas Parr said debate over the trials obscured the main 
> question. "The choice is whether you want to go down a 
> genetically modified future or down a sustainable, organic 
> future," he said. "There's a strong consumer drive towards the 
> sustainable, organic view, but governments and industry are 
> pushing in the other direction. CWS is part of the UK 
> consumer co-operative movement, with businesses ranging from 
> supermarkets to funeral parlours. It was set up by the retail 
> co-operatives in the 19th century. 
> Britain plans tests aimed at assessing the wider impact of 
> genetically modified crops on the environment. 
> The trials will look at the effect of crops scaled up from 
> flower-bed or handkerchief sized plots to whole field size. 
> Fresh controversy over GM foods was sparked in Britain last 
> month when international scientists backed scientist Arpad 
> Pusztai, who claimed his research showed damage to rats fed on 
> genetically modified potatoes. 
=====================

3) FOE PRESS RELEASE: UK'S BIGGEST FARMER PULLS PLUG ON GM TRIALS. 

UK'S BIGGEST FARMER PULLS PLUG ON GM TRIALS 
FOE Demands Halt to "Unscientific" Tests
The Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS), the country's biggest 
farmer, has decided not to take part in the Government's 
farm-scale trials of genetically modified (GM) crops. The 
decision undermines the Government's deal with industry to grow 
limited areas of GM crops for four years to monitor effects on 
wildlife.
The Government is shortly expected to announce details of the four 
farm-scale trials, due to begin in the next few weeks. They had 
hoped to conduct two of the trials on land farmed by CWS. Even 
before the CWS decision the farm-scale trials were in trouble. A 
Government document leaked to FOE admits that the first year's 
trials would not be "scientifically sound" as there were only to 
be 4 trials (2 trials per crop) rather than the 15- 25 trials 
needed to produce statistically robust results. Friends of the 
Earth opposes the farm-scale trials currently proposed by 
Government and industry because they are unscientific and should 
only take place as part of a wider moratorium.
Commenting, FOE Senior Food Campaigner, Pete Riley, said: 
"The Co-op should be congratulated on their responsible and 
courageous decision. The Government's proposed GM-trials are 
rushed, secretive and unscientific. If CWS, with its reputation 
for responsible and progressive farming won't take part, then 
surely the Government should admit defeat and cancel the trials 
for this year? Commercial pressures have forced the pace, 
undermining good science and overriding public concerns. Only a 
guaranteed 5-Year Freeze on commercial planting can rebuild public 
confidence that the genuine scientific concerns about GM crops are 
being addressed." 
ENDS 
Notes 
[1] The farm-scale trials, announced by Michael Meacher MP and 
Jeff Rooker MP on 21st October 1998, were intended to investigate 
the effects on wildlife of growing GM herbicide-resistant oilseed 
rape and maize.
A detailed FOE critique of the farm-scale trials is available. 
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