Anti genetically-modified organism (GMO) activists have consistently been protrayed as cranks, luddites, and hippies.

Via Nathan Newman, I see that some of the worst predictions of the anti-GMO activists may be coming true

Modified genes from crops in a GM crop trial have transferred into local wild plants, creating a form of herbicide-resistant “superweed”, the Guardian can reveal.

The cross-fertilisation between GM oilseed rape, a brassica, and a distantly related plant, charlock, had been discounted as virtually impossible by scientists with the environment department. It was found during a follow up to the government’s three-year trials of GM crops which ended two years ago. The new form of charlock was growing among many others in a field which had been used to grow GM rape. When scientists treated it with lethal herbicide it showed no ill-effects.

Unlike the results of the original trials, which were the subject of large-scale press briefings from scientists, the discovery of hybrid plants that could cause a serious problem to farmers has not been announced.

Of course, as we know, just because it looks like they’re right doesn’t mean that anybody will listen. It’ll be interesting to see if this raises debate in the scientific community (the unbought portion, anyway) around the safety of GMOs.