A trial to develop a genetically modified potato that could save the UK potato industry £50million a year and benefit farmers worldwide has been destroyed by activists after just three weeks.
The small-scale field trial, less than 0.1 hectare in size, at the University of Leeds was vandalised early this month, sparking anger from the research leaders. The incident has also called into question the UK policy to publicise the precise address of all GM trials.
“Potato cyst nematodes are serious pests and a major constraint to British potato farmers,” said Dr Peter Urwin, who said a failure to distinguish a research trial from product-development trials seemed to have blinded activists.
