Report on GM crops is damning

The future of GM food was dealt a devastating blow today when new research showed that the technology damages wildlife.

Long-awaited results of farm-scale trials showed that two out of three crops had a "significant effect" on the environment.

The findings were a setback for Tony Blair who has consistently stressed that Britain should not turn its back on the potential benefitsof GM products. But they appeared to back up claims made by former ministers, including ex-Environment Minister Michael Meacher, that huge doubts still remained.

Today's findings showed that GM herbicidetolerantversions of two crops - beet and spring rape - had a damaging effect on wildlife, reducing populations of butterflies, bees and beetles. The third crop - GM maize - was found to cause less damage to the environment than conventional varieties.

However, this research was immediately thrown into question when scientists admitted the pesticides used on conventional maize will soon be made illegal.

In total, the results mean that Mr Blair will now find it almost impossible to give the go-ahead for the commercial growth of GM crops in Britain.

Environmental campaigners called on the Prime Minister to "close the door on GM for good."

The findings come as US bio-technology giant Monsanto, which has pioneered GM crops, has announced it is pulling out of many of its European operations and axing two-thirds of its British workforce.

Jeff Cox, general manager for Monsanto UK, denied that there was any

link with the huge opposition to GM crops, but admitted the timing of the announcement was "unfortunate".

Monsanto said its closure could affect up to 80 of its British employees at its operation in Trumpington, Cambridge.

The three years' worth of research carried out in fields across Britain, and contained in eight scientific dossiers, was presented by a panel of independent scientists to the Government today.

Environmental groups today welcomed the study, saying that it was finally clear that most genetically modified plants should be banned.

Pete Riley, from Friends of the Earth, said: "There would be a massive public outcry if the Government chose to give the go-ahead to GM crops that cause environmental damage."

The research is based on findings after fields were divided into two and planted half with GM spring rape, beet and maize and half with conventional versionsof the same crops. The normal crops were sprayed with traditional pesticides while the GM plants were treated with specially genetically modified weedkillers.

Scientists assessed what impact these crops - and the herbicides they were sprayed with - had on soil organisms, spiders, butterflies, bees and beetles. The special used on the GM rape and beet were found to cause far more damage to biodiversity than their conventional counterparts.

The findings come only days after a separate study for the Government found that GM seeds could be carried 16 miles by insects - far farther than previously thought - increasing the risk of cross-contamination to other farms.

There are also suggestions that GM crops can tip the ecological balance in many fields and would eventually cause some common weeds and birds to become extinct.