THE debate on GM food has been pushed out of the news recently by reporting of the foot and mouth outbreak, but it has not gone away.

Despite the extremely infectious nature of this strain of foot and mouth, the Government has continued with this year's farm-scale trials of GM crops. (In contrast to what occurred in the 1967 outbreak, when all agricultural field research was postponed for the year). They are so keen to push ahead with GM that they have agreed to the commercial planting of a form of GM maize long before the completion and evaluation of the three-year farm-scale trials. This action shows the trials to be a sham, a sop to the public.

Serious failings in Government procedure and scientific research have recently been uncovered in relation to this maize (Aventis' T 25). It is a cattle feed, but has never been tested on cows. Only one study was done to see what happens when animals eat the maize and this was done on chickens. The Government approved the maize without even seeing the chicken study. Scientists at Bristol University, who checked the chicken study, said they were "surprised that a study of such poor nature should have been submitted as evidence of anything." Aventis (the biotechnology company behind the GM maize) refused to give evidence to defend its science at a recent public hearing.

Tony Blair has talked about ensuring that farming is made sustainable in the long term. If he is truly committed to this, he would ban T25 maize until it's proved entirely safe for people, animals and the environment. He would be prepared to delay mass GM planting, and spend time researching and evaluating sustainable agriculture seriously (rather than seeing it as a niche market). This would accord with the lack of market for GM food and the unmet demand for UK sustainably-grown food. Unless he takes this approach there could be yet another farming crisis just around the corner.

Updated: 11:09 Thursday, May 17, 2001