GM crop-growing stalled in the UK

Most British beekeepers will be delighted by the news that UK Genetically Modified (GM) crop trials seem to have ground to a halt. Following a succession of confusing UK Government messages, it appears that the growing of GM crops in the UK has effectively been shelved until 2008 after Bayer announced it was stopping its trials.

Bayer CropScience, the only company licensed to grow to grow herbicide-resistant maize in the UK, has decided to pull out of trials, blaming government constraints for making it “economically non-viable”. Bayer CropScience said government-imposed conditions would stall GM maize production for too long.

Andrew George MP, Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesman, accused biotech companies of wanting “the profit but not the problems from GM crops. Bayer admit that having vital systems to protect consumers, farmers and the environment, would mean GM crops simply aren't worth the trouble ... Bayer's decision now gives Ministers time to get it right on GMs, having so far got it wrong.”