GM row nearly closed farms

ONE wonders if people who recently called for a halt to all US maize imports into the EU knew or cared that such a move would bring European livestock production to a halt.

The US is the source of much of the millions of tonnes of imported maize that fattens most of Europe’s livestock (and 29 million tonnes of imported soya which helps them to grow).

The calls were made when it emerged that 1,000 tonnes of Bt10 maize from the US have entered the EU, although this genetically modified crop is not certified in the US or Europe.