Monsanto project prompts 3,423 objections

The Environmental Protection Agency has received more than 3,400 objections to plans by US company Monsanto to expand its trials on genetically modified sugar beet to 10 sites in Ireland this year.

An EPA spokesman confirmed yesterday that it had received 3,423 "representations" by last Wednesday's deadline. The agency had to process the most recent submission before a final figure could be established - the figure refers to separate objections, as opposed to signatories on a petition, though some objections are from groups of people.

The figure represents almost a tenfold increase in objections to last year when the biotechnology company first sought a licence to begin trials here. Only one trial proceeded on land owned by the farm research body, Teagasc, in Carlow but it was sabotaged.

The Green Party has called on the EPA to stage an oral hearing before its decision on the Monsanto application, which is due within 90 days of the company's formal notification early this month. "This is an issue which has huge implications for the future of Irish agriculture, food, the environment and people's health," claimed party spokeswoman on food and agriculture, Ms Paula Giles.

A Monsanto spokesman said: "We knew there would be objections as Genetic Concern and the Green Party have been engaged in a strong media campaign designed to increase the number who lodged objections with the EPA. We have no problem with people lodging objections."

He said that for security reasons the company had not disclosed the names of 10 farmers at the various locations where trials were planned for beet to be modified to be resistant to Monsanto's herbicide, RoundUp.

Monsanto, he said, wanted to know that if the names were published, the farmers and their families would not be "subjected to abuse, harassment or intimidation".

The Irish Times understands, however, that the EPA has told Monsanto that it is not in favour of keeping sites and farmer names confidential. This is in line with its stance last year, which prompted the company to reduce the number of its proposed trials. EU directive 90/220/EC does not permit the trial location to be kept confidential.

Genetic Concern spokesman, Mr Quentin Gargan, dismissed suggestions of an orchestrated campaign of opposition. The number of objectors reflected "a growing number of people coming to know about the issue, and the lack of demand for such trials from other than within biotechnology industry".

The Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, confirmed she had received a letter from Monsanto's new business manager here, Dr Patrick O'Reilly, which stated that if the company got "assurances" it would be willing to publish the farmers' names.