The farmer who is hosting GM trials on his land in Wivenhoe is to meet the town council behind closed doors.

Jim Dutton, of Sunnymead Farm in Alresford Road, said he will be meeting councillors in private on Thursday. But he said he would not discuss the meeting's agenda.

Two fields on the farm are due to be planted with GM maize crops later this month or in May.

"They have not been planted yet, " said Mr Dutton. He is waiting for suitable weather before the crop is planted.

Last year a GM trial crop of forage maize was planted at the farm, sparking protests from Crow - Concerned Residents of Wivenhoe.

Crow will be lobbying councillors before the meeting and are sending them a briefing paper it has produced on this year's trials.

Green group warns of cross-contamination

Friends of the Earth has stated tightening Government guidelines on GM crops may still not be enough to prevent cross-contamination of nearby crops.

A new report commissioned by FoE, from the National Pollen Research Unit, shows that pollen from maize and oilseed rape can travel much further than the separation barrier between GM and non-GM crops.

It also states that farmers trying to meet consumer demand for GM-free food face losing their livelihoods if their crops become contaminated. Supermarkets are operating at a level of 0.1 per cent contamination to meet demand for GM-free food.

Carol Kearney, FoE GM campaigner, said: "The Government's farm scale trial separation distances are too pathetic to protect GM-free crops from contamination. As a result the livelihoods of neighbouring farmers are now under threat."

But a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said: "This is a critique of the review of separation distances which Maff carried out in May of last year. We are aware of this report and will respond to FoE."

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