The Max Planck Institute for Plant Pathology, Gölm

The Max Planck Institute for Plant Pathology is located 50 minutes southwest of Berlin in Gölm, and was victim of eco-terrorist crop vandalism in the early morning hours of July 24, 2004. “Crop vandalism” is the deliberate destruction of crops by many means, and “eco-terrorism” is terrorism motivated by radical ecology and/or environmentalism. As the attacked crops were genetically modified potatoes, it is inferred that the vandals were motivated by an extremist anti-genetic modification ideology.

After 50 minutes by train and 50 more by language-barrier-aided meandering, I found an expansive and unexpectedly militant fence encompassing a equally large green house––fortified with an equally militant second fence and more security cameras than that of the Reichstag. These are measures the scientific community of Germany must take to continue their vital presence and contributions in the global progress of genetics without incident. Even with my limited experience in plant genetics research, the degree of concern for scientific liberty and passion for development is tangible in this unfortunate situation. Of all of the German walls English 4400 has visited, only this one was truly worth standing.

Image and text by Charles