Genetically modified superweed discovered after British trial

THE first genetically modified superweed has been discovered in Britain — the result of GM oilseed rape cross-breeding with a common weed.

Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth (FoE) said the revelation raises serious concerns about the impact of growing GM oilseed rape in Britain and comes less than a month after Britain tried to persuade other European countries to lift their own bans on growing GM oilseed rape.

FoE said the government study monitored gene flow from Bayer's herbicide-resistant GM oilseed rape to related wild plants during the farm scale evaluations of GM crops.