Calls for a balanced debate on the issue of genetically modified food are being made by a North Yorkshire company carrying out trials.

Genetically-engineered oilseed rape and sugar beet have been sown at Manor Farm in Eddlethorpe, near Malton, which is owned by Independent Agriculture, of Welburn.

American-based biotechnology company Monsanto says it is one of three sites in North and East Yorkshire where genetic food trials are taking place - including one near Selby.

Monsanto revealed details of its tests after the Prince of Wales spoke out against multi-national companies for trying to persuade the public that the growing of genetically-engineered crops should be allowed in Britain.

Pat Lane, technical manager with Independent Agriculture, said: "The rape we have planted has an extra gene which makes it resistant to a certain herbicide.

"This means you can kill off everything else without affecting the crop, making weed control that much easier."

Mr Lane said the genetically modified rape was sown as a spring crop about a month ago and was now coming through the ground.

But he said: "We will have to destroy those plots before the harvest. They're not going to seed - that's part of the stipulations that have been laid down by Monsanto."

"We have to have a balanced debate about the issue and try to answer the consumers' genuine worries. We are all for having an open debate as long as the people who make claims about the safety of genetically modified crops are willing to listen to the other side of the argument."

Monsanto is carrying out trials at around 60 locations in Britain. It reveals on its website that a survey showed fewer than one person in seven was happy with gentically-modfied food.

But product development manager Cathy Hooper said: "We believe biotechnology is a way of meeting the growing demand for food without placing further pressure of the environment.

"It allows us to grow better quality crops with a higher yield.''

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