New Scots GM trials planned

Four farms are considered for oilseed rape trials

Four farms in Scotland have been earmarked for the next round of genetically modified crop trials.

Three sites in Aberdeenshire and one in the Black Isle have been considered for tests of GM oilseed rape this autumn, the Scottish Executive said.

The executive said the farm scale trials were "important research" to assess the viability of GM produce.

I believe in the technology and I think it will offer great benefits for the food industry all round plus also for the medical side

Shirley Harrison, GM farmer

However, in a statement, the executive said it continued to exercise a "cautious approach" towards the trials.

UK trials have been subject to opposition from environmental activists with some crops damaged or destroyed.

The executive said: "Today's announcement recognises the understandable public concerns about the development of GM crops and reflects the Scottish Executive's commitment to openness and transparency.

"Every effort will be made to ensure the public is kept fully appraised of developments surrounding the next round of the Farm Scale Evaluation Programme."

If given approval the four sites selected for the autumn trial would be the fourth round of Scottish projects in a three-year programme.

Two of the proposed sites are at Daviot, in Aberdeenshire, and one at Rothienorman. The other is at Munlochy, in the Black Isle.

Some crops have attracted protesters

Daviot farmer Shirley Harrison, who has already taken part in previous GM trials, said she was convinced of the need for the work, despite being targeted by activists in the past.

She said: "I'll be embarking on the fourth trial which will be going in at the end of August.

"I believe in the technology and I think it will offer great benefits for the food industry all round plus also for the medical side.

"We may well in the future be growing medical crops instead of just plain oilseed rape."

Mrs Harrison said last year's spring and winter trials were damaged by protesters but she was determined to proceed.

Commercial growing

She said she had consulted local people and found there was not so much opposition as a lack of understanding about what was being done.

The announcement came ahead of the publication of a survey by Highland Council which reported a majority of people opposed to GM trials.

The study of 1,100 households found more than 65% of people surveyed were dissatisified with the public consultation process, 55% were opposed to commercial growing and more than 51% were against any crop trials.

Highland councillor David Alston expressed his disappointment that further trials were going ahead.

He said: "The government's own commission, which is looking at a whole range of issues around GM, has not yet reported.

"The other thing is that we've just published a survey today of attitudes throughout the Highland Council area and it's clear from that that there's a clear majority of people who don't want to see either GM crop trials or commercial growing of GM.

"I think it's clear that these crops trials are going ahead against a background in which people feel strongly and they really don't want this."