New Zealand Crop & Food Research genetically modified potato trial uprooted at Lincoln. A claim for the damage was made by Nandor Tanczos of the anarchist group Wild Green to Radio New Zealand in the early hours of this morning.

Crop & Food Research chief executive Dr Michael Dunbier said potato plants from all lines in the trial site had been pulled out and it had set back the science programme and that of three doctorate students by 12 months.

"We have been conducting small-scale contained potato field trials as part of a 10-year research programme assessing the safety of genetically engineered potatoes. The trials were also aimed to produce disease and pest resistant plants that would significantly reduce use of chemicals," he said.

Dr Dunbier said the unfortunate effect of this criminal vandalism is that in breaching containment of the trial they have increased the risk of spreading the genetically modified plant material. All the trials have been approved by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and have undergone public consultation and widespread scrutiny and discussion among public interest groups and scientific experts in New Zealand and overseas.

Dr Tony Conner, Crop & Food Research gene technology scientist, said the potato plants had been genetically modified to resist the bacterial soft rot disease, a major problem for New Zealand's potato industry. Resistance to bacterial soft rot would improve potato tuber quality and reduce pesticide use. This work should lead to reduced pesticide residues in soils and ground water.

There were also potato plants genetically modified to increase resistance to potato tuber moth. Benefits of this work include environmental enhancement and sustainability by reducing pesticide residues in soils and ground water, as well as enhancing genetic diversity within potato germplasm.

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