A Ryedale farmer today spoke for the first time about why he is to grow experimental genetically modified crops on his land.

Mark Rooke, who farms at Beadlam Grange, Nawton, near Helmsley, defended his decision to be part of the Government's trials after environmentalists, who have dubbed GM crops "Frankenstein foods", called a public meeting in the village.

He hailed GM crops as "a breakthrough in farming" on the day Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace published a hit list of farms across the country which they claim are taking part in the controversial trials.

Mr Rooke is to farm five acres of GM fodder beet on his 300-acre farm.

Campaigners have repeatedly destroyed trial fields in mass protests elsewhere in the country.

But undaunted by this, he is to face environmentalists at a meeting next week organised by Malton Friends of the Earth campaigner Josie Downs.

He said: "GM crops are the best thing since sliced bread. It means we are using a lot less chemicals and that means less damage to the environment.

"I and other farmers believe we are totally right in what we are doing. It is a breakthrough in farming. Surely that's what we want ?

"I haven't just jumped into this, and I'm making nothing out of it." He said the pesticide used on GM crops did not affect soil or water and was extremely safe.

Ms Downs said: "It would be good if local people turned out at the meeting. There will be a speaker from the Friends of the Earth Food Campaign, and Mr Rooke has been invited to address the meeting."

The meeting is to take place in Nawton Parish Hall on Wednesday, April 12, at 7pm.

Nationally, the trials are clustered around Norfolk and Lincolnhsire with others in Yorkshire, Midlands and Scotland.

Ms Downs said the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions was organising its own series of meetings across the country in connection with the GM trials. One of these would take place in York on April 26.

Ms Downs added that admission would be by ticket only, and said concerned members of the public should telephone Phil West on 0171 944 5277 for further details.

Farmer Carl Clayton has pulled out of a planned trial of herbicide resistant fodder beet on five acres of his land at Ulleskelf, near Tadcaster.

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