GREENPEACE DECONTAMINATES GM FIELD - LORD MELCHETT ARRESTED

26 July 1999

London -- At 5.15am today in a peaceful direct action, a Greenpeace decontamination unit removed genetically modified (GM) pollution from the third farm-scale experiment to be disrupted in the UK over the last eight weeks.

The six acre GM maize (1) site at Lyng in Norfolk, due to flower in one week, was partially decontaminated by 30 peaceful Greenpeace volunteers with the help of a farm mower. Removing the crop down to its roots, the maize was then bagged up to contain the contamination.

An area of the GM crop had already been removed when the police arrived at approximately 5.35 am and arrested around 30 people, including local organic farmer and Executive Director of Greenpeace UK, Lord Peter Melchett. Lord Melchett said, "The British public have made it very clear that they do not want these GM farm-scale trials to go ahead. It is vital that this crop is removed before it flowers, spreading GM pollution." The Lyng site has been the subject of huge local opposition and was planted for AgrEvo without public consultation.

The police were thought to have been alerted by farm workers in the area who attempted to drive Greenpeace away using a JCB. Greenpeace GM Campaigner Jim Thomas said, "GM doesn't just threaten the health of the public and the survival of the environment it threatens the future of the farming community. This is why so many farmers are very concerned about GM crops. If the Government insists on conducting this experiment against the public's wishes, it is up to organisations like Greenpeace to act on the public's behalf. Our disagreement isn't with this farmer or these farm workers; it's with AgrEvo for producing this crop and the Government for letting it be planted."

A recent Mori poll commissioned by Greenpeace shows that 79% of the British public are opposed to field trails of GM crops (2). The Government itself admits that GM pollution from farm scale experiments will contaminate both organic and conventional crops.

Lord Peter Melchett said, "Now that three out of seven of the Government farm-scale trials have been disrupted, the whole programme of commercialisation of GM pollution disguised as 'science' is at risk."

Greenpeace has today published details on its Truefood web site showing the location of all the GM farm scale trials in the UK. It is the first time the public can see for themselves where the GM pollution threats are. The web site also shows the details of all organic farms and sites of natural importance in the vicinity of the farm scale trials. The site address is www.truefood.org/xfields

Greenpeace is an international environmental organisation committed to non-violent direct action in defence of the environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Greenpeace Press Office on +44 171 865 8255/6/7/8

(1) The Maize crop has been modified by agrochemical company AgrEvo to resist its herbicide 'Liberty'.

(2) Mori - Audience Selection Phonebus poll on Gm food February 1999.