Secret German GM crop trials revealed Half the country is experimenting, says minister

Ben Aris in Berlin

Seven of Germany’s 16 states were revealed to be hosting secret trials of genetically modified crops after environmental activists destroyed a field of corn in Saxony-Anhalt, in the east of the country.

Saxony-Anhalt, which, with Bavaria, is one of two states to admit funding GM crop trials, said five other states were holding trials in 29 secret locations.

Saxony-Anhalt’s economics minister, Horst Rehberger, said GM corn, which will be fed to cattle, was also being cultivated in Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony and Thuringia.

Germany’s Green party, which is backing a tough genetic engineering law, said it was dismayed to discover from the media the extent of GM cultivation. The Greens are the junior partner in the ruling coalition.

"We were surprised not only to discover the number of trial fields but also the total size more than 300 hectares [750 acres] ... This is not just an experiment, they are growing the corn for profit," said a spokesperson.

The party says farmers are taking advantage of a loophole in EU regulations that allows them to grow GM crops for experimental purposes without notifying the authorities.

A tough German genetic engineering law to force farmers to ask permission to grow GM crops and set up a central register has been hamstrung by regional opponents in the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament.

The Greens claimed there was an alliance between the biotech industry and conservative parties, who were trying to profit from the absence of definitive legislation. Greenpeace has already applied to the European commission for clarification of the rules, arguing that the location of the experimental fields cannot be kept secret.

Kristof Then, the Greenpeace spokesman for agricultural affairs, said: "The action of the state representatives in the Bundesrat [to block the genetic engineering law] is ... against the interests of the country and against the interests of the people."

In April, the EU introduced a directive requiring all food prepared with GM ingredients to be labelled. But the rule does not apply to meat and dairy products from animals fed genetically altered fodder.

Germany has no penalties for companies that ignore the directive. Conservatives also blocked the German agriculture minister’s proposal to impose a €50,000 (£34,000) fine on rule-breakers.

Mr Rehberger said Saxony-Anhalt had set aside €390,000 (£263,000) to fund the trials, of which €240,000 (£162,000) was being held in reserve to compensate farmers for any damage the trials caused.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,1211329,00.html