Investigations are continuing into the total destruction of a crop of a Monsanto sponsored genetically modified sugar beet at Shanagarry, near Midleton in County Cork over the weekend. According to a Monsanto company spokesperson, over £40,000 of damage was caused to the test site when the crop was cut down and trampled upon. To date four trials have been sabotaged at a total cost of £120,000.
This afternoon the Monsanto's Irish Business Manager Patrick O'Reilly visited the field. A full assessment of the damage has now been completed and reported to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Monsanto-sponsored crop at Shanagarry was damaged with scythes. There have been a number of attacks on other test sites in Wexford, but this is the first such incident in Cork.
