PROPOSAL TO TRIAL GM POTATOES IN A FIELD ON THE BOUNDARY OF HEDON EAST YORKSHIRE - CONSULTATION RESPONSE

This Council, having received information from, and discussed with experts from both sides of the argument, is strongly opposed to agreement being given to a trial of genetically modified potatoes being held in a field in Preston, bordering Hedon, East Yorkshire. 

The reasons are that:

1.    We cannot accept that there is any need for the development of a genetically modified potato intended to produce a blight free strain.  As has rightly been pointed out here are several varieties of blight resistant potatoes existing at present.  The growth of a large number of different potatoes throughout the country all minimises the risk of blight to a substantial degree.

2.    The safeguards needed to protect a GM crop are inadequate.

3.    This field is bordered to the north and west by a public highway; it is bordered to the south by a footpath(the old railway line from Hull to Withernsea) which is extensively used for recreational purposes; it has a designated footpath running through the middle of it.  This must increase the risk of cross contamination, public exposure to an unknown pollen and vandalism of the crop.

4.    The area is widely used for a wide range of arable farming.  The danger of cross-contamination by inter-and transpollination cannot possibly be contained with the buffer zones required by DEFRA.

5.    The area for miles around is extensively used by beekeepers to gather nectar for honey making.  This has the benefit of pollinating many different crops in Holderness.  The bees are often exposed to different fields at different times and are moved around the area for this purpose.  The danger therefore of much wider contamination and effect on other closely related species cannot be ruled out.

6.    BASF insisted that following the trials there would be no genetically modified potatoes left in the field.  We are unconvinced by their reassurances on this point.  Anyone who has grown potatoes knows that any scrap of plant material left on the bed can generate a new potato plant in the following season.  There is general disbelief that the field an ever be completely cleaned and even if it were it would take a number of years for this to be effected.  Commercial and economic pressures on the farmer to reuse the field would be intense.  The two year condition imposed by DEFRA seems to us inadequate in this respect.

Yours sincerely

On behalf of Hedon Town Council

J M Richardson (Mrs)

TOWN CLERK