"There is no alternative to the transparency and neutrality of experimental planting."

The project, which is coordinated by the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL), is investigating pollen drift and GMO incrossings. The aim is to use the data to develop effective coexistence concepts and recommendations for minimum separation distances between GM and conventional maize.

The nighttime attack resulted in about ten percent of the GM plants being trampled. It should nevertheless still be possible to evaluate parts of the trial, since the maize had already started flowering in the warm climate of the Upper Rhine. The male Bt maize flowers had already released their pollen and fertilised the female flowers. Any incrossings into conventional maize plants had already taken place by the time part of the Bt maize crop was destroyed.

The agriculture minister for Baden-Württemberg, Hauck, and Federal Agriculture Minister Seehofer both condemned the attack. "The destruction of deliberate release trials hinders research findings, which we urgently need to understand the future of green genetic engineering", said Seehofer. Both those in favour of and those against genetic engineering should accept research findings. "There is no alternative to the transparency and neutrality of experimental planting, which of course cannot take place only under controlled laboratory conditions".