Editing Rothamsted Research (section)

== GM protest ==
In 2012 Rothamsted started testing [[genetically modified wheat]] which had been modified to produce an aphid alarm pheromone produced by aphids when under attack to help deter pests.<ref>{{cite news| title=The GM scientists' risky strategy that won public support | author=Ian Sample | newspaper=The Guardian | date=27 May 2012
| url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/may/27/gm-food-pr-strategy}}</ref> This trial attracted criticism from anti-GM groups and "about 200" people attempted to occupy the site on 27 May 2012.<ref>{{cite news | title=GM trial survives - but 'war' goes on | author=David Shukman | work=BBC News | date=27 May 2012 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18229199 }}</ref> They were prevented by a large police presence and the protest ended peacefully.<ref>{{cite news | title=Anti-GM protesters kept from tearing up wheat crop by police | author=Shiv Malik | newspaper=The Guardian | date=27 May 2012 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/may/27/anti-gm-protesters-police-rothamsted }}</ref> However one protester did trespass and damage the crop. The protester was later arrested, tried and fined £4,000.<ref name=fordham>(19 July 2014) [http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/update/2012-08-24/devon-man-fined-4-000-for-gm-centre-damage/ GM Crop Damage Fine] ITV News, Retrieved 9 July 20915</ref>

A video appeal by scientists at Rothamsted led to over 6,000 people signing a "Don't destroy research" petition organised by [[Sense about Science]].<ref name="Don't destroy research">{{cite web|title=Don't Destroy Research Campaign|url=http://www.senseaboutscience.org/petition.php|publisher=Sense about Science|access-date=29 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814030415/http://www.senseaboutscience.org/petition.php|archive-date=14 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Sense about Science also organised a question and answer session with scientists.<ref name="SAS Q&A">{{cite web|title=Sense about Science Q&A|url=http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/plant-science-qa.html|publisher=Sense about Science|access-date=29 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018231124/http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/plant-science-qa.html|archive-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> The author [[Mark Lynas]] commented that Rothamsted's successful campaign may be a turning point for GMOs.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Lynas | first1 = M. | doi = 10.1186/2048-7010-1-17 | title = Rothamsted's aphid-resistant wheat - a turning point for GMOs? | journal = Agriculture & Food Security | volume = 1 | pages = 17 | year = 2012 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

The results published in 2015 showed that the trial wheat variety was no better than standard wheat varieties in deterring pests.<ref>{{cite news |last= Case|first= Philip|date= 27 June 2015|title= 9 questions about the GM wheat trial answered|url= http://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/nine-questions-about-the-gm-wheat-trial-answered.htm|newspaper= Farmers Weekly|location= Surrey, UK | access-date= 9 July 2015 }}</ref>