She accused the previous conservative government of authorizing a massive extension of genetically modified crops without waiting for scientists to reach a definitive opinion.

She suggested that the former government had taken decisions on the basis of research funded by the biotech industry itself.

"In recent years Spain has become Europe's big granary of GM corn," Narbona told reporters.

"This is the result of a decision by the previous government to allow the growing in our country of a crop on which the scientific community has yet to form a conclusive opinion," she said.

"There are those who believe this should not be a cause for concern and others, more independent of the lines of research financed by the biotech industry, who hold a different opinion."

Narbona added that a joint inquiry set up by the ministries of agriculture and environment under the new Socialist government would consult the broadest possible range of scientific advice.

"We want to reinforce independent research in this area, and I underline the word independent, because in this country, where there is little scientific investigation, many researchers are privately financed by companies that want the research to have a specific conclusion," she said.

"Not only must we carry out more research, but we need more sources of independent research."

The Greenpeace environmental organization said recently that Spain is the only country in the European Union that has been producing genetically modified grain since 1998.

It said half a million tons of biotch corn are sold on the national market every year.

TERRA.WIRE