Protesters foiled in their bid to rip up GM crop

Members of the anti-GM movement Take The Flour Back had said they planned to rip up the crops which they fear could “contaminate” nearby fields at the site in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

But a heavy police presence prevented protesters accessing the site after council chiefs had successfully applied to the Home Secretary for greater police powers to stop anyone going on the land belonging to Rothamsted Research.

Two men were arrested in the banned area on suspicion of public order offences during the demonstration which involved around 200 people, Hertfordshire Police said.

Campaigners linked arms to walk to the site before reassembling in the park where they spent time “chatting, listening to music, sharing non-GM food and swapping plants and seeds”, a spokeswoman for the group said.

Coordinator Gathuru Mburu told those assembled: “Experimenting with staple crops is a serious threat to food security. Our resilience comes from diversity, not the monocultures of GM.”

Take The Flour Back member Nicola Gomez said: “People came from across the country. I feel today has been a way to raise awareness again in the public domain about GM crops which are being tried out in the UK, despite there being public opposition to them.”

Professor Maurice Moloney, director of Rothamsted Research, insisted the chance of any cross-pollination was minuscule.

He said: “We have no idea who is advising them scientifically, because it is absolutely incorrect.

“Wheat is a self-pollinating plant so there is virtually no chance of any cross-pollination with local wheat.

“The way we have grown the wheat is desynchronised with local wheat as well, meaning it flowers at different times. It is the equivalent risk of worrying that a tornado would hit you.”

The experimental crop of GM wheat was planted in April and is due to grow until September. It has been developed with genes from the mint plant.

Prof Moloney said: “As a result, the wheat produces a volatile chemical which the aphids don’t like and it makes them go elsewhere.

“The purpose of it is to see if we can come up with a strategy that would avoid the use of pesticides in wheat crops, as they kill other creatures like bumblebees.”

The Government’s chief scientific adviser, Prof John Beddington, said: “No one would claim that GM is a way of solving the food security issue, but it is one of those tools that actually has that potential.”

Prof Beddington said ongoing research was needed to explore potential benefits from GM wheat, adding: “It properly has got to be done in very carefully controlled conditions that minimise as far as possible any problems, and that’s exactly what’s happening.”

A Rothamsted Research spokesman said: “We are pleased that the protest in Rothamsted Park this afternoon has been peaceful and that both supporters and opponents had the chance to make their voices heard.

“We have worked closely with the Hertfordshire Constabulary and are very grateful for their support to protect any illegal damage to our experiments and facilitating this peaceful protest.

“We hope we can now proceed with this project without any further threats to find some answers to the question of reducing the use of harmful insecticides in wheat crops, benefiting future generations and the environment.”

Hertfordshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Heather Valentine said: “The size of the area owned by Rothamsted Institute is vast, historic and of scientific and economic importance and with little information from the main organising group ahead of today, planning for this operation has been complex.

“We have, however, achieved our aims of delivering a proportionate policing response to the protest with a friendly, firm, fair and engaging style.”