Protesters destroy genetically modified grapevines at French government research site

By The Associated Press (CP) – 6 days ago

PARIS — Protesters have destroyed vines of genetically modified grapes at a government research site in eastern France.

The security chief for the Haut-Rhin region, Jean-Christophe Bertrand, told Europe-1 radio that 50 people were detained after the incident Sunday morning.

The government ministers for the environment, agriculture and research condemned the "intentional destruction" at the National Institute for Agronomic Research in Colmar.

In a statement, the ministers said the research on the biotech vines poses no risk to health or the environment, and was meant in part to study a virus that damages grapevines.

French environmental activists have routinely destroyed fields of genetically modified crops.

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