The farmer responsible for ‘decontaminating’ part of a highly controversial genetically modified wheat trial in Hertfordshire has today been fined £4,300.  

Although debate over GM whiffy wheat being grown in an open air trial at Rothamsted Research Institute has fallen off in recent months, in May, when Hector Christie was discovered reaping the GM wheat at Rothamsted, the trial had proven a deeply controversial issue, sparking wider discussion about genetic modification in agriculture. Pro and anti-GM commentators debated the issue on BBC Newsnight, a large-scale protest took place at Rothamsted and the Institute’s website was targeted by ‘hacktivists’.

On Friday (24th August), 51-year-old Christie, from Bideford, Devon, pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage at Central Hertfordshire Magistrates’ court. He had pulled up GM wheat and scattered organic seed in protest against the experiment. Christie was fined £350 and forced to repay £3,850 compensation and £85 costs.

Christie climbed a fence to enter the trial site on 20th May and told a security guard the crops he was protecting were a "waste of time and money." The organic farmer said Rothamsted had downplayed the risks of GM crops; he was supported by character witness testimony from environment writer George Monbiot and former environment minister Michael Meacher.

Rothamsted Research would not comment on the outcome of the trial. Rothamsted’s scientists had previously released an internet appeal to anti-GM activists imploring them not to damage the crops. In May, researchers at Rothamsted said Christie had caused “significant damage” but had not disrupted the trial.

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