Say no to unnecessary and risky GM trials

Genetically modified potatoes planted in UK fields

The UK Government has approved trials of GM blight resistant potatoes at two sites in the UK. They were planted near Cambridge at the NIAB research centre on 19 April 2007.

However, in July a group of activists were reported to have trashed the potato crop. It is now unlikely that the trial will be able to go ahead in 2007.

They are also due to be planted in Hedon, East Yorkshire - but a local campaign has successfully prevented them from being grown until 2008.

The Hedon campaign has received great support. Their public demonstration attracted 300 protestors, and an online petition has been signed by around 1000 people. Both East Riding District Council and Hedon Town council voted against the trials, and local MP Graham Stuart believes the trial shouldn't go ahead in 2007.

Farmers also expressed their concerns because trials poses a threat to their borage crops. They fear massive financial losses if the GM trial goes ahead. Beekeepers take bees to the fields to pollinate borrage. But because companies like Sainsbury's won't buy honey from bees exposed to GM crops, they won't take their bees to fields within six miles of the trials.

Take action

• Support the local campaigns - Visit the Hedon campaign's website and sign their online petition to voice your opposition to the trials. There is still the threat that the GM-potatoes could be grown next year.
  
  
• Write to supermarkets and food companies - As long as there is no market for GM food, companies making and selling food will maintain their policies of not using GM ingredients. But supermarkets and food companies need to hear that their customers are still concerned about GM. These trials provide an ideal opportunity to remind them. To make this easier we've written a sample letter for you to use.
  
  
• Support the alternatives - There are many varieties of potato that are blight resistant through conventional breeding. But some of these are less suitable for the food processing industry - too knobbly or the wrong texture. Support farmers and growers producing these varieties - try visiting farmers markets and farm shops because they're more likely to stock them.

Further information

For more detailed information on the GM potato trials, and why we are opposing them please visit our resource page.