Greens vow to fight GM spuds invasion of Yorkshire this April

Plans by Leeds University to plant genetically modified potatoes near Tadcaster next month have been attacked by the Green Party. Leslie Rowe of Richmondshire Green Party called the plans "mad, bad and a danger to us all."

"It is important to keep Yorkshire GM free to preserve our reputation for untainted food, " Mr Rowe declared. "There is no demand for GM potatoes! Indeed the demand is for organic produce free of scientific tinkering." He went on, "This unnecessary experiment by Leeds University is also a risk to farmers which threatens GM-free potato supplies in Yorkshire ."

"This trial is not in the interests of sustainable farming and there is a severe risk of contamination. These mad scientists are trying to create a Neomycin-resistant gene which may lead to antibiotic resistance transferring back into the food chain."

With the rise of such antibiotic resistant bugs as Clostridium difficile and MRSA, the additional resistance passed through GM potatoes would pose a direct threat to the most vulnerable members of society; children and old people."

"Research on GM crops also suggests that they lead to the use of more pesticides, provide lower yields, increase immunity in insects and have other unexpected results."

"There has been little consultation with local people and no agreement to compensate farmers for any contamination."

"The scientific work of Puzstai at Edinburgh  and a study of Monsanto GM potatoes carried out 10 years ago in Russia  both suggested adverse effects on experimental animals from the consumption of GM potatoes. These include weight loss, reduced reproductive fertility and organ damage in rats."

"The potato cyst nematode is a problem for potato farmers, but there are ecologically sustainable methods of minimising crop loss which are much safer than GM potatoes" declared Mr Rowe. These include conventionally bred resistant varieties, long rotations and good hygiene. GM potatoes may lead to shorter rotations, increasing soil erosion and may be at greater risk from other pests and the 600 diseases which may affect potatoes in the UK ."

Green activists defeated BASF last year in their attempts to plant GM potatoes in Hedon East Yorkshire and in Cambridge .

Green Euro-candidate Leslie Rowe of Richmond predicts a similar defeat for the Tadcaster trial if people protest quickly enough. He urged everyone opposed to this GM experiment to contact Defra immediately. "We have very little time to stop this game of GM Russian Roulette, he declared. “The Green Party will be at the forefront of the fight against this GM planting. We are fighting to win this and every fight against the food terrorism that GM represents.”

EU 2009

Candidates

Martin Hemingway

Shan Oakes

Leslie Rowe

Rick Rolt

Kevin Warnes

hull [at] greenparty [dot] org [dot] uk

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