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The Government is pressing ahead with GM field trials this year in spite of protests from a number of farmers from around the country. During the last major foot & mouth outbreak, in 1967, field research was suspended for a year. Some of the sites announced are in exclusion zones.
The GM field trials will require staff from five institutions going from farm to farm all around the country. These researchers will be given advice on infection control.
COUNCIL PROTEST
Protests have also come from West Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire which has four sites announced for 2001, more than any other District.
The Council voted unanimously in March to send a delegation to Environment Minister Michael Meacher to protest at the undemocratic way these trials are being forced against the wishes of local people. Even the farmers who are members of the Council supported this move.
Meacher has now refused to meet the Council. So in April they voted unanimously to find legal means to enforce local consent. They also want the Government to take responsibility for GM field trials. (Details from The Gaia Trust - 01507 490112)
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GM FARM TRIAL SITES
Sites for 2001 were announced in March.
There is only one farm being used in Notts - the ADAS research station at Meden Vale, near Warsop. This has two trials, the same as last year.
There are two sites in Leicestershire:
winter oilseed rape planted Autumn 2000 at Woodhouse, near Loughborough. (See separate page.)
spring oilseed rape at Great Dalby, near Melton.
In Lincolnshire there were 6 sites planted Autumn 2000 and 11 sites Spring 2001.
* To see map locations of this year's sites see FOE's national website. (For previous sites see DTLR website.)
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