GREEN campaigners fear GM food trials which will start in Lymm this autumn could contaminate surrounding farmland.

Seven acres of land at Woolstencroft Farm, Agden, will be planted with genetically modified oilseed rape as part of a three-year experiment.

Environment Minister Beverley Hughes has given the go-ahead to independent researcher Aventis Crop Science UK, which claims the trials are vital to determine the effects of genetically modified crops on local wildlife. The comparative study will measure the number of insects and weeds found in the GM crops against those in non-GM fields.

The company says a distance of 400 metres will be maintained between GM crops and unmodified crops, minimising the risk of contamination.

But Diana Herring of Warrington Greenpeace group insisted any risk of pollen transfer was too high.

She said: "There are no safe levels for GM trials, soon even the organic food chain will be contaminated and once that happens there's no going back.

"It's been found that genetic modification can destroy caterpillars thus threatening the butterfly population.

"We should not be tampering with nature and upsetting its balance."

But Lymm Councillor, Sheila Woodyatt said: "These tests are important in determining the safety of GM crops and they have happened in many other parts of the world.

"It should not be a cause of panic for local people."

Farmer William Blackman, on whose land the trial will take place added: "There is a very low risk in cross pollination happening.

"What is more important is that these trials are crucial in determining the effects that GM crops have upon biodiversity."

The trials are part of the Farm Scale Evaluations programme enabling research into the effects of GM oilseed rape on farmland wildlife, which began last March and is set to continue until 2003.

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