Permission to conduct a trial of genetically modified potatoes at an east Yorkshire farm was given to BASF this week.

But planting is not set to start until next year at the earliest, according to the Financial Times, and discussions are underway with neighbouring farmers.

The group was granted permission to trial its GM crops at sites in Cambridgeshire and Derbyshire in December.

But planting in Derbyshire was abandoned after one farmer expressed concerns for her personal safety following anti-GM protests, although the process has already begun in Cambridgeshire .

GM potato trials are also taking place in Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands.

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