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| Europe |
| GM 'THREAT' TO ORGANIC CENTER |
| by Richard Kay and Beezy Marsh |
| 23-Apr-2001 Daily Mail |
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THE largest organic farming centre in Britain, which has Prince Charles as its patron, says it could be wrecked by contamination
from a nearby Government GM crop trial. The world-renowned Henry Doubleday Research Association near Coventry fears it may lose its organic status and face ruin because of a crop of genetically modified maize only two miles away. The Prince, who has faced private criticism from Ministers for speaking out against GM foods, is being kept informed of the threat to the registered charity. Any contamination from the 25-acre field of cereal will invalidate research projects into organic farming funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and waste hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxpayers money. But the association was not consulted on the siting of the GM crop at New Farm in Wolston, Warwickshire. With an annual turnover of GBP 4million, the HDRA is the UK's leading authority on organic farming research. As well as running a thriving garden and restaurant, employing 120 people, it also boasts a comprehensive seed library of rare vegetables and plants. The Prince will today visit farming charities at Stoneleigh Park, a few miles from the planned GM site, where he will monitor the progress of his GBP 500,000 donation to farmers over the foot-and-mouth crisis. Friends of the Prince last night said he had agreed to keep a low profile on the GM issue, but added: 'He is interested in what is happening at the HDRA and is being kept well-informed of developments.' Alan Gear, chief executive of the association, said: 'We are the country's leading organic horticultural organisation and we are carrying out official Government trials into organic farming methods, yet we have a crazy situation where we are facing a real threat of GM contamination.' Planting of the GM crop is due to start next month. The Department of the Environment, which is coordinating the trial, says that any organic farm more than 220 yards from a GM crop is safe. But the Soil Association says that for GM maize, any farm within two miles could be contaminated. Mr Gear said: 'If we lose organic status it will not only invalidate the MAFF trials we are running, it will threaten our whole future.' A spokesman for Aventis Crop Sciences, which produces seeds for the GM trial, said: 'The site was chosen by a Government scientific committee and they are clearly satisfied that there is an appropriate distance between the trial and the HDRA. It will present no problems.' |
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