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This list of testsites has been compiled from information produced by the Biotechnology Unit of the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions. There is a KEY available at the end of the table.

08/04/04 UPDATE: At present the only GM crop trial being carried out in the UK in 2004 is a research and development trial of GM peas by John Innes Centre in Norwich, (TG 180070). This is the second year of a two year trial. More information on this trial from DEFRA. A new table for 2003-2004 will be added shortly as will an update to the 2002-2003 table

If you have any additional information that would increase the accuracy of this table please email us at

You can see the data for the following periods:

 

Crops planted from Autumn 1999 and harvested by Autumn 2000

This list was last updated on September 14 2000. This was the final update.

Click here to see this data in map form.

 

Hide columns: Company | Crop | Area | Harvest | Traits | Status

Show columns: Grid Ref | Farm Address | Gmo Ref | Sown

 

Company

Crop

Area

Harvest

Traits

Status

 
ABERDEENSHIRE

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

Damaged 

SAC 

SOSR 

0.001 

 

LA 

 

NIAB 

S/W0SR 

10 

rotation 

LLor RR 

 

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

 

 
ANGUS

SAC 

Potatoes 

0.2 

oct 

AS, AB 

 

 
MIDLOTHIAN

Aventis 

WOSR 

0.04 

 

LL SL 

 

 
CUMBRIA

Monsanto 

F Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

 
YORKSHIRE

Aventis 

S Beet 

0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

 

Novartis 

S Beet 

0.03 

jul-sep 

RR 

 

Leeds uni 

Potatoes 

0.1 

oct 

NR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Aventis 

S Beet 

*1 

 

LL AB 

 

Aventis 

F Maize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

60% Damaged 

Advanta 

S Beet 

*1.5 

sep.dec 

LL 

 

Monsanto 

F Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

F Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

Damaged 

Aventis 

WOSR 

0.04 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

 
HUMBERSIDE

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

 

Aventis 

Fmaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

 

 
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Aventis 

WOSR 

1.6 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

Novartis 

S Beet 

0.03 

jul-sep 

RR 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Aventis 

WOSR 

0.05 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

 
LINCOLNSHIRE

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

 

Aventis 

Fmaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

 

Advanta 

S Beet 

*1.5 

sep.dec 

LL 

 

Aventis 

S Beet 

0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

 

Novartis 

S Beet 

0.03 

jul-sep 

RR 

Destroyed 

Aventis 

S Beet 

*1 

 

LL AB 

 

Advanta 

S Beet 

*1.5 

sep.dec 

LL 

 

Aventis 

S Beet 

0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

 

Novartis 

S Beet 

0.03 

jul-sep 

RR 

Destroyed 

Aventis 

S Beet 

*1 

 

LL AB 

 

Advanta 

S Beet 

*1.5 

sep.dec 

LL 

 

Aventis 

Fmaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

 

Aventis 

WOSR 

** 10 

 

LL SL 

 

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

Aventis 

WOSR 

** 10 

 

LL SL 

 

Monsanto 

F Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

 

 
CHESHIRE

Aventis 

FMaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

 

 
FLINTSHIRE, NORTH WALES

Aventis 

FMaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

60% Damaged 

 
SHROPSHIRE

Aventis 

S Beet 

0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

 

Novartis 

S Beet 

0.03 

jul-sep 

RR 

 

Aventis 

S Beet 

*1 

 

LL AB 

 

Advanta 

S Beet 

*1.5 

sep.dec 

LL 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

F Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Aventis 

FMaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

 

 
WORCESTERSHIRE

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

 
HEREFORDSHIRE

Aventis 

FMaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

15% Damaged 

Monsanto 

F Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

 
WARWICKSHIRE

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

 

 
GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

75% Damaged 

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

50%+ Damaged 

Monsanto 

F Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

 
OXFORDSHIRE

Aventis 

S Beet 

2 X 0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

2 tests 

jul-sep 

LL SL 

 

Aventis 

S Beet 

*1 

 

LL AB 

 

IVEM 

VIRUS* 

0.02 

Autumn 

BV 

 

 
CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

Damaged 

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

Aventis 

S Beet 

0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

 

Aventis 

S Beet 

*1 

 

LL AB 

 

Monsanto 

F Beet 

* 2 

Jan-1 

RR 

 

NIAB 

WOSR 

10 

rotation 

LL or RR 

 

NIAB 

WOSR 

10 

rotation 

LL or RR 

 

NIAB 

Potatoes 

0.001 

dec 

NR AS AB 

 

Novartis 

S Beet 

0.03 

jul-sep 

RR 

 

Adv Tech 

Potatoes 

0.4 

nov 

AS 

 

Advanta 

S Beet 

*1.5 

sep.dec 

LL 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

sep-jan 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Novartis 

S Beet 

0.03 

jul-sep 

RR 

Destroyed 

IACR 

S/Fbeet 

feb-apr 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

sep-jan 

RR 

 

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Biogemma 

SOSR 

0.005 

jul-sep 

PS 

 

Biogemma 

Wheat 

0.03 

jul-sep 

AP RA 

Destroyed 

IACR 

S/Fbeet 

feb-apr 

RR 

 

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

Aventis 

S Beet 

2 X 0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

 

oct-dec 

LL SL 

85% Damaged 

Aventis 

S Beet 

*1 

 

LL AB 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

 
NORFOLK

NIAB 

WOSR 

10 

rotation 

LL or RR 

 

Aventis 

S Beet 

2 tests 

 

LL AB 

Destroyed? 

IACR 

S/F beet 

feb-apr 

RR 

Destroyed? 

Novartis 

S Beet 

0.03 

jul-sep 

RR 

Destroyed? 

Aventis 

S Beet 

2 X 0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

Destroyed? 

Advanta 

S Beet 

*1.5 

sep.dec 

LL 

Destroyed? 

IACR 

S Beet 

dec 

LL or RR AB 

Destroyed? 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Aventis 

FMaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

sep-jan 

RR 

Destroyed 

 
SUFFOLK

Aventis 

S Beet 

0.5 

oct-dec 

LL AB CM 

 

NIAB 

WOSR 

10 

rotation 

LL or RR 

 

IACR 

S Beet 

dec 

LL or RR AB 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

sep-jan 

RR 

 

IACR 

S/F beet 

feb-apr 

RR 

 

Aventis 

S beet 

*1 

 

LL AB 

 

Aventis 

WOSR 

0.12 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

F Beet 

**2-10 

Winter 

RR 

 

Monsanto 

S Beet 

sep-jan 

RR 

Destroyed 

 
HERTFORDSHIRE

Aventis 

WOSR 

 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

Aventis 

WOSR 

** 

 

LL SL 

Damaged 

Aventis 

SOSR 

** 

aug-oct 

LL SL 

75% Damaged 

Aventis 

WOSR 

 

 

LL SL 

 

Aventis 

SOSR 

jul-sep 

LL SL 

 

NIAB 

WOSR 

10 

rotation 

Ll or RR 

 

Aventis 

FMaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

Destroyed 

Biogemma 

SOSR 

0.005 

jul-sep 

PS 

 

Aventis 

WOSR 

* 0.04 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

Aventis 

WOSR 

0.15 

 

LL SL 

Destroyed 

 
BERKSHIRE

Astra-Zeneca 

Potatoes 

0.4 

nov 

SFR 

 

Astra-Zeneca 

Potatoes 

0.1 

nov 

SP ABR 

 

 
ESSEX

Aventis 

FMaize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

Damaged 

 
SOMERSET

Biogemma 

SOSR 

0.005 

jul-sep 

PS 

 

 
DORSET

Aventis 

F Maize 

** 

 

LL AB CM 

15% Damaged 

 
 

Key:

Grid Ref
Grid references, four number refs will be updated to six number refs when information is available
Farm Address
Grouped by county. Addresses of farms hosting test sites are no longer made public, only the parish names are supplied. Over time we hope to fill in the addresses. If you can help with this please us.
Company

Aventis= formerly known as AgrEvo. AgrEvo's German parent company Hoescht have merged with Rhone-Poulenc to create Aventis.
Advanta= Seed company owned by Astra-Zeneca
Adv. Tech= Advanced Technologies, based in Cambridge
SAC
= Scottish Agricultural College
NIAB= National Institute of Agricultural Botany
IACR= Institute of Arable Crop Research
IVEM= Oxford University's Institute of Virology & Environmental Microbiology.
SCRI
= Scottish Crop Research Institute
GMO Ref
quote this reference when in communication with the government's Biotech Unit; there is a dossier of information available on each of these tests from them.
Crop
WOSR
= Winter oil seed rape, SOSR= Spring oil seed rape, S Beet= Sugar Beet, F Beet= Fodder Beet, F Maize= Fodder Maize, S Wheat= Spring Wheat.

Area
Maximum area of test crop in hectares.
* = National Seed List - site size is 'per variety'
**= government sponsored "Farm Scale Trials", all are the split field design, half the field is GE and half is a non-GE, and there is a non-GE border crop. Except where stated, these are up to 10 hectares in size, more exact areas may be available soon.

Traits
RR= "Roundup Ready" Resistant to Monsanto's patented broad-spectrum herbicide, active ingredient glyphosate.
LL= "Liberty Link" Resistant to Aventis' patented broad-spectrum herbicide glufosinate ammonium, sold as Liberty.
SL= Aventis' patented system for producing oil seed rape hybrids by using genetically engineered male sterility.
SP= Astra-Zeneca's "switchable promoter" allows genes to be switched on and off, dubbed "Traitor Technology".
SFR=Switchable fungal resistance genes, an application of Traitor Technology
AB= GM Crops known to contain antibiotic resistance marker genes.
DR =Disease Resistant
AS= Altered starch and sugar content.
AP= Altered proteins
HL= High Laurate acid content
RA
= Resistant to Asulam herbicide.
NR= Resistance to nematodes, microscopic soil creatures.
CM= Cauliflower Mosiac Virus (CamV) used as a vector in GE process.
PS= Oil seed rape engineered to have reduced pod shatter.
BV= This organism is a GE baculovirus, an insect attacking virus made more deadly, tested for use as an insecticide (sprayed on plants).
Status
Destroyed= Test site destroyed by public
Damaged= Test site damaged by public
Abandoned= Trial abandoned by company due to crop failure or damage by public

(VCU)= National Seed Listing Trial for Value for Cultivation and Use
(DUS)= National Seed Listing Trial for Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability

 

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