Some genetically modified crops are likely to crossbreed with organic crops or wild plants, jeopardizing farms that are certified as GM-free, according to a European Union study. The Europe Environment Agency found that rapeseed, sugar beet, and maize had a medium to high probability of transferring genetic materials, while potatoes, wheat, and barley were unlikely to crossbreed. In related news, a British organic farming group is contending that GM crops are threatening 111 organic farms in the U.K. even though the crops were planted at a distance from the farms, as mandated by the U.K. government. Last week, the government revealed the locations of 35 new sites where experimental GM maize will be grown this spring.
