Several students gate-crashed the event and attempted to vandalise a stand before they were asked to leave following their 15-minute protest. One protestor said: "We're concerned about the use of GM crops and chemicals in the UK...and the bottom line is I don't think we need them."

Experts also went head to head on the matter in a debate on pesticides. David Buffin of the Pesticide Action Network is opposed to the use of chemical pesticides. "There is a lot of debate over GM foods, about whether they will lead to a reduction in pesticide control or not. But we would support that," he said.

Crop Protection Association spokesman Patrick Goldsworthy responded: "I think we've got to have standards. GMOs are seen as an integrated part of farming."Goldsworthy also said he thought pesticides are ncessary in farming today.

But Buffin emphasised that growers should be looking for alternatives, such as garlic. "The advisory committee on pesticides needs to change so it has a broader approch. It would then come from the point of view of pesticide management rather than chemicals."

British Potato Council spokesman Mike Storey said: "It's not simply a matter of picking up on garlic as the answer: we don't know what the active ingredient is. But if you look at the stands today, you see promotions on sustainability and biodiversity which show people are thinking aobut environmental issues and that's a very positive message."

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