Extracts from Front Page Leading Article of the Western Morning News and other sources
SECRET AGENDA
DUNCAN SANDES : 11:00 - 21 October
2006
Farmers and campaigners have labelled as a "sham" the Government's
consultation over whether genetically modified (GM) crops should be
grown commercially in the UK for the first time. The
three-month consultation over whether GM crops can successfully
"co-exist" with conventional and organic produce ended yesterday.
- Michael Meacher, and other
campaigners, suspect that the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (Defra) is looking for a way to overcome opposition and
introduce GM crops "through the back door". Mr
Meacher this week claimed that public opposition to GM crops was being
"overridden" by the Government's determination to support the
controversial industry. His views were yesterday
backed by
Westcountry farmers and campaigners, who insist the controversial
technology could lead to a "cross-contamination" with organic crops
being grown in the region
. - Maurice Spurway,
Westcountry spokesman for the environmental group, Friends of the
Earth, backed Mr Meacher's claims.
- Andrew George, the
Lib-Dem MP for St
Ives, who has backed a campaign to keep Cornwall GM-free, described the
latest move as a "sham consultation".
- Ian
Johnson, the National Farmers' Union spokesman for the South West, said
GM crops were a "big issue". "The underlying fact is that farmers need to be commercial
and they will not grow anything that the public will not want or buy,
so I cannot see GM crops being grown in the UK."
- South Hams council said the proposals offered "inadequate
protection" to the environment, farmers, and the local economy.
- Cornwall, Devon and Somerset County Councils, have written to the
Government to reiterate their opposition to GM crops declaring themselves GM-free zones
The
public
consultation was over proposals to allow GM crops to be grown for the
first time in the UK, provided they are separated from other crops by
at least 35 metres (115 feet). Private gardens and allotments would
receive no protection.
Previous attempts to
conduct GM
experiments were met with huge opposition in the UK, with campaigners
voicing concerns over cross-contamination with organic crops. Such has been the level of opposition
that GM crops have never been grown commercially in Britain.
DEFRA : "Our co-existence
proposals
address the possibility that approved GM crops might be grown here in
due course. Our proposals will minimise any unwanted GM presence in
non-GM crops as far as possible."
dsandes@westernmorningnews.co.uk