GMO cropping on ice

OXFORD - Commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops in the U.K. will remain on ice until 2002. Michael Meacher, the environment minister, on Friday announced that the British government and SCIMAC, a grouping of industry organizations representing farmers, plant breeders, the seed trade and biotech companies, were renewing an agreement on the conduct of farm-scale evaluations through the end of the 2002 harvest.

This includes banning unrestricted cultivation of GM crops in the U.K. until evaluations are completed on pilot plantings, which will be limited to 20-25 fields per crop per year. Also, none of the produce will be used to benefit growers commercially. ...