QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Millions of pounds and thousand of hours research from skilled scientists have been wasted trying to establish if GM oilseed rape was safe. Much of this was publicly funded despite the public's rejection of GM crops in the late 1990s. The lesson for politicians from this fiasco is that they need to listen and involve people more in decisions about food and farming. If they did we might end up with a regulatory system and approach to farming that commands public respect and meets their demand for high quality food that is produced in a way to minimise its environmental impact".
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Five Year Freeze welcomes Bayer's decision on GM Oilseed Rape
PRESS RELEASE Immediate Release

The Five Year Freeze warmly welcomes the news that Bayer CropScience has withdrawn applications to grow GM oilseed rape in the EU.

The news follows the publication of DEFRA research last week which found GM genes had transferred to two wild relatives during the Farm Scale Trials of oilseed rape.

Many objections have been raised against GM oilseed rape including:

*safety of the crops as a food and animal feed.

*marketing problems arising from cross contamination of non GM and organic crops and the absence of clear liability laws.

*the production of millions of GM weed killer resistant oilseed rape volunteers every year which would require controlling by herbicides leading to an increase in chemical usage.

*transfer of genes to feral rape and wild relatives which might lead to the creation of super weed killer resistant weeds.

*harm to farmland wildlife by the reduction of weeds and weed seeds under the herbicide regime used in GM oilseed rape.

Five Year Freeze Director Pete Riley commented:

"We are delighted that this high risk crop has finally been halted by a commercial decision from Bayer. Millions of pounds and thousand of hours research from skilled scientists have been wasted trying to establish if GM oilseed rape was safe. Much of this was publicly funded despite the public's rejection of GM crops in the late 1990s. The lesson for politicians from this fiasco is that they need to listen and involve people more in decisions about food and farming. If they did we might end up with a regulatory system and approach to farming that commands public respect and meets their demand for high quality food that is produced in a way to minimise its environmental impact".

Calls to Pete Riley 07903 341065