Lyng GM crop action
The purpose of the action at Lyng in 1999 was to remove a crop of GM maize before
it flowered and released GM pollen over large areas of the countryside. The maize
had been genetically modified to be resistant to a particular brand of herbicide. The
action had been preceded days before by a public meeting in Lyng where a clear
majority of residents had opposed the growing of GM maize in the area. The farmer
who was cultivating the GM maize was invited to the meeting but did not attend.
Agrevo, the chemical company responsible for the GM crop, sent a representative to
speak at the meeting, but he was unable to allay people's concerns.
Shortly before the action it had also become clear that Switzerland had moved to ban
the specific variety of GM maize growing at Lyng (known as T25 maize) because
"harmlessness to humans and the environment has not been adequately proven". A
public opinion poll commissioned before the action had also revealed that 73% of the
British public were opposed to the growing of GM foods because of the hazards posed
by GM pollen to organic farming.
