Farmers who allow their land to be used for genetically-modified crop trials should be applauded, not hounded, says a North Yorkshire farmer.

Peter Knaggs, who farms 200 acres at Church Fenton, near Tadcaster, today sprang to the defence of neighbouring Ulleskelf farmer Carl Clayton, who pulled out of the latest trials after he met fierce opposition from fellow villagers.

Mr Knaggs said GM science had many potential benefits - including a massive reduction in the use of "noxious and horrible" chemicals farmers currently used to spray crops.

He said: "I grow some vegetables and if I had a modified brussel sprout, cauliflower or cabbage resistant to aphids, then I could dramatically reduce the amount of unpleasant chemicals used to grow these crops.

"That would be tremendous news both for farmers and people who eat the food.

"You can't decry GM science as rubbish before you've even tried it. If it's proved to be wrong then we stop, but if it's proved to be sound then we should go forward with it.

"I don't think anyone has the right to stop a man growing what he wants on his own land."

Mr Knaggs, who runs the farm with his wife, Jenny, a Church Fenton parish councillor, said it was wrong that Mr Clayton and other farmers should be intimidated and pressurised into withdrawing from vital GM research work.

He said at a recent National Farmers' Union conference, Prime Minister Tony Blair urged farmers to adapt, change and modernise.

"However, here in North Yorkshire do we apply the Luddite mentality and return to the pitchfork and scythe? Were the steam engine, car, computer and mobile phone denounced - I think not.

"I feel sorry for Mr Clayton who has come in for a lot of stick, which is totally unwarranted."

Green campaigners, who have battled against "Frankenstein food", welcomed Mr Clayton abandoning the trials of herbicide-resistant fodder beet, saying GM crops belonged in the laboratory until they were declared safe.

But Mr Knaggs countered: "If the green groups win in this country, GM science will go abroad and our competitors will take advantage, leaving us high and dry as normal.

"Calling it Frankenstein food doesn't help the situation at all. All I'm asking for is give GM a chance."

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