A NEW crop of genetically-modified oilseed rape is to be planted near York, a seed firm confirmed today.

Aventis CropScience UK has been granted a Government licence to plant the new crop near the village of Sand Hutton, just outside York, and will begin planting at the end of this month.

Aventis Seeds Manager, Dr Paul Rylott, said the site would not provide food for human or animal consumption, but would test the suitability of the new crop for future use.

"What is being planted is a new variation of GM oilseed rape, on a very small scale indeed," he added.

"All varieties of seed, whether GM or not, have to go through this listing process.

"It is like a Which? report for crops, really. We do this so that farmers can look at each of the varieties and compare its responses when the time comes for them to look to purchasing."

Although the crops have been designed by Aventis, the actual report will be carried out by Government food ministry DEFRA, which is renting the site from the nearby Central Science Laboratories.

Dr Rylott said the site was "about the size of a tennis court", and that the trials were expected to last for two years. At the end of that period, the crop will receive a Government rating on its performance.

He added that, although it was a small site, Aventis had to be mindful of attacks by anti-GM crop protesters.

"Unfortunately, when we make these announcements in newspapers for reasons of openness, there is a very small minority who use the information for the wrong reasons," he added.

"It has become a fact of life. We just hope people give it up."

Updated: 11:02 Tuesday, August 28, 2001