Political and public pressure is increasing on researchers in Germany to reveal the locations of 30 fields sown with corn seeds that have been genetically modified (GM) to resist corn borer.
The fields are part of a research project that aims to determine if GM corn has any effect on neighboring conventional cornfields. The study involves seed companies Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and the German-based firm KWS SAAT.
Thus far, research coordinators, seed companies, and participating farmers have resisted the ever-increasing pressure, saying that field locations in seven German states must be kept secret to protect them from damage by anti-GM activists, a fate that has befallen other German GM crop sites recently.
The seed companies and farmers have not even revealed field locations to government officials or other public officials who might be legally required to release the information.
A spokeswoman for the European Commission told The Scientist that ...
