A RYEDALE farmer is vowing to press ahead with trials of genetically modified fodder beet, despite pleas for him to pull out.

Mark Rooke, who farms at Beadlam Grange, Nawton, has rejected an appeal by Josie Downs, of York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth and Ryedale Against Genetically Modified Organisms (RAGMO).

Ms Downs urged him to pull out of the five-acre fodder beet trial after Canadian oilseed rape seed which was supplied to British farmers for planting was found to have been 'contaminated' by GM material.

She also said honey bought near a GM trial site was later analysed and found to contain GM pollen.

Mr Rooke has now rebuffed her claims, saying: "I am at a loss to see why you think the issue of oilseed rape seed from Canada is anything to do with the Government trial of fodder beet on my farm. The fodder beet will not be allowed to produce pollen.

"Dozens of trials with this crop have been done since 1993 across Europe and close monitoring has revealed no harm to the environment."

He added that safety of crops was not an issue - as the Government has already confirmed that the crops are safe to use. The GM fodder beet to be grown at Beadlam Grange tolerates glyphosate, allowing Mr Rooke to use weedkillers such as Tumbleweed and Round-up rather than having to resort to costly chemical cocktails.

Mr Rooke tells Ms Downs: "I realise that you and Friends of the Earth probably find it very hard to accept that herbicides need to be used at all, but anyone who understands farming knows that weeds have to be controlled.

"I have become involved in this important trials programme because I have an open mind and I want to see this new science being judged on a fair scientific basis, not an emotional, uninformed shouting match."

But Ms Downs says she was expecting this response, adding: "I shouldn't be surprised at all if it does look, from the three years of trials, as if they don't have to use so much herbicide. But we still wonder why are they doing these trials? What's the point?

"If you think that they're utterly safe and it doesn't matter if some seeds get used inadvertently that have been genetically modified, it just makes the trials look a sham."

"We look at these trials in much more of a long-term way. These farm-scale trials are just the tip of the iceberg."