News blog

Rothamsted trial attacked

A genetically modified (GM) wheat trial in the United Kingdom was attacked over the weekend by a lone protestor.

The experiment at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire had already drawn threats and protestors, but the main group opposing the trial has denied any involvement in this weekend’s incident.

In a statement, Rothamsted said that the intruder attempted to break into the trial on Sunday morning and “caused significant, random property damage, but failed to disrupt the experiment”. Rothamsted says that the man in question was arrested and has been charged with criminal damage.

“This act of vandalism has attempted to deny us all the opportunity to gather knowledge and evidence, for current and future generations, on one possible technological alternative approach to get plants to defend themselves and therefore reduce pesticide use,” said Maurice Moloney, the institute’s director, in an e-mail statement.

The GM wheat trial had already been threatened by the Take the Flour Back group, who said that they were planning to “decontaminate” the site on 27 May. Eleanor Baylis of the group said, “We have no information about this incident, but are relieved if the quantity of GM pollen released from the trial has been reduced.”

More
Threats spook UK crop researchers
Editorial: Misplaced protest

Comments

Comments are closed.