1.GM field trashed in attack
2.Defra approve GM Potatoes Application

EXTRACT: The attack on June 5 leaves Britain with just one remaining field of GM crops, government sources said last night.

NOTE: No evidence is produced in this article (item 1) to support the claim that this was "vital research to help end famine worldwide"!

Indeed, according to GM Freeze not only is there absolutely no demand for GM potatoes (even Monsanto withdrew its GM potatoes in the US) but there is no need to use GM, as in this case, to crerate potato cyst eelworm repellant potatoes because "conventionally bred resistant varieties are already available which... can minimize yield losses."
www.gmfreeze.org/uploads/PCN_potato_response.pdf

As for the claim in the article by a UK Government Minister that the people who trashed the crop show "arrogance" by not instead joining "the debate about GM foods", that is positively laughable given that the Government has conducted a public debate on the issue and totally ignored its conclusions!

As someone commented recently in the context of trials in New Zealand, when trials are being approved irrespective of the number and strength of submissions against them: "Why put people through the angst and hassle (of making a submission)? They're better off going in and pulling the crops out."
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1. GM field trashed in attack
By Vincent Moss
Sunday Mirror, 15 June 2008
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2008/06/15/gm-field-trashed-in-attack- 98487-20607314/

Eco-warriors have destroyed an entire crop of genetically modified potatoes - wiping out vital research to help end famine worldwide.

No one has claimed responsibility for the destruction of thousands of the spuds in a field near Tadcaster, North Yorks.

But Environment Minister Phil Woolas, who had sanctioned the trial by scientists at Leeds University, last night launched a furious attack on the "gutless" group behind the incident.

Supporters of GM foods believe they could help alleviate food shortages and stop prices spiralling.

But critics claim they harm the environment and have dubbed them "Frankenstein foods".

Mr Woolas said: "The people behind this should have the guts to go public and join the debate about GM foods. Their arrogance appalls me."

The attack on June 5 leaves Britain with just one remaining field of GM crops, government sources said last night.
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2. Defra approve GM Potatoes Application
GM Freeze, 9 May 2008
http://www.gmfreeze.org/page.asp?id=343&iType=

GM Freeze described today's announcement by Defra to approve an application to trial GM potatoes near Tadcaster in North Yorkshire a by the University of Leeds as "very unwise and unnecessary".

The decision comes two months after a public consultation ended and despite a hint from Defra's statutory advisory committee ACRE that the trial might have taken place in a greenhouse:

"ACRE considered that the inclusion of a further step e.g. a glasshouse study in the progression from laboratory experiments to field release might have been more appropriate in this case". [1]

Furthermore ACRE also raised other concerns about the release of the GM potatoes which are genetically modified to repel the soil pest Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN). ACRE did not consider that the applicant had provided sufficient information on the specificity of the synthetic peptide. The applicant discussed the impact of the peptide on PCN but did not address the potential for it to affect other soil organisms. The Committee did not consider it likely that the peptide would have adverse consequences for soil biodiversity more generally, given that the peptide is exuded in very small amounts by the GM plants, it is not stable and does not exert a toxic effect on PCN.

However, since there were no data provided to demonstrate its specificity to PCN and that it is not toxic to other organisms in the soil, ACRE felt there was too much uncertainty to draw this conclusion and asked for further information.

GM Freeze objected to the release for a number of reasons [2]:

* Lack of demand for GM potatoes.
* Lack of need because PCN can be dealt with using good agricultural practice.
* Risk of GM genes escaping in pollen.
* Persistence of GM volunteers.
* Risk of tubers being transferred off field.
* Lack of evidence is provided that unexpected side effects of the GM insertion have taken place.
* Lack of data about the synthetic genes used.
* The presence of the neomycin resistant gene raises concerns about the long-term risk of increasing antibiotic resistance.
* Lack of data about the allergenicity of the new and altered GM proteins.

Commenting Pete Riley of GM Freeze said:

“This approval is unwise and unnecessary. Potato cyst nematode can be tackled using good agricultural practice by have many years between potato crops in the rotation. GM potatoes will encourage short rotation which will not lead to sustainable systems. We are very concerned that Defra persists in approving applications which contain antibiotic resistant marker genes involving antibiotic which are still in clinical use. These genes are not needed and should be removed. The GM proteins in these potatoes have not been tested sufficiently for allergenicity first. All in all it’s a bad decision by Defra."

ENDS

Calls to Pete Riley 0845 217 8992 or 07903 341065.

Please note GM Freeze’s new land line number 0845 217 8992.

Note
1. www.defra.gov.uk/environment/acre/meetings/08/min080221.htm
2. www.gmfreeze.org/uploads/PCN_potato_response.pdf