This week we’re featuring a guest post from local campaigner Jane Brown, who is supporting a campaign to prevent hidden GMOs entering our food and environment.

As a passionate seed saver for the Down to Earth Stroud Community Seedbank for many years, I have been concerned about Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) since they first appeared about 30 years ago. I am as concerned with the corporations developing these seeds and organisms as the materials themselves and their increasing use of Glyphosate (Round-Up) herbicide. To control the food chain, especially seeds, is a good way to make fortunes!

My current concern is the new definition calling gene editing techniques ‘Precision Bred Organisms’ (PBO’s) – both plant and animal – which are being presented as ‘could be obtained by traditional breeding’.

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act was passed in March 2025 with a public consultation held over the Xmas period. This act now allows all material defined as PBO’s to be deregulated and no longer be traceable or labelled for consumers or farmers. These can be released into the environment without risk assessments or ongoing monitoring and threatens the Organic food supply, right down to allotments and gardens.

Beyond GM (with GMFreeze) have launched a Crowd funding campaign to get a Judicial Review of the process of implementing the Act as it is deemed illegal. The hope is that the government will have to allow labelling at the very least.

So far, the initial sum of £38,575 has been raised and now a further £85,000 is needed for the full legal process.  If we can just get this regulation passed, it is better than nothing. We have just four days to go till the fundraiser closes!

Please look at the Stop Hidden GMOs site and give any amount you can afford to the campaign:

Judicial Review: Stop hidden GMOs entering our food and environment

Thank you!