GM crops farmer in court battle

Highland Council wants planning consent for GM crops

Highland Council is to make a second legal attempt to stop a farmer on the Black Isle taking part in GM crop trials.

The council had gone to court last week in an attempt to prevent Jamie Grant from planting genetically modified oil seed rape on his Munlochy farm.

Although presiding judge, Lord Hardie, refused to grant the interim interdict he asked that Mr Grant put his case to the Court of Session on Monday.

The council is fighting to have applications for such trials put through the planning process.

Seed firm's backing

Council lawyers claim that because the trial crop will never be commercially sold, it represents a change of use of the field from agriculture to research.

The authority believes that if it is right then it should be able to subject such proposals to the normal planning process.

Mr Grant must defend the action in court under the contract he has with the UK Government to take part in the research.

It is understood his legal representatives will be provided and paid for by the seed company Advanta which is behind many of the GM crop trials.