The US company, Monsanto, has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency to significantly expand its testing of genetically modified crops in Ireland.
It has sought permission to increase sugar beet trial sites from one to 10. The beet is genetically engineered to be resistant to its herbicide Roundup.
Its initial trial on land owned by the farm research body, Teagasc, at Oakpark, Carlow, is the subject of a High Court judicial review yet to be heard.
The hearing was sought by the environmental group, Genetic Concern, but the crop was dug up and destroyed by protesters last September.
Genetic Concern, which dissociated itself from the sabotage and insisted it was pursuing legal avenues of opposition, said it was alarmed by Monsanto's latest move, which it claimed was further indication of such food "being imposed on Irish people without consultation".
Monsanto plans trials at four locations in Co Cork: Shanagarry, Midleton; Belgooly, Kinsale; Brough, Doneraile; and Grange, Buttevant. Other locations are: Knocknaboher, Cahir, Co Tipperary; Tankardstown, Navan, Co Meath; Thomastown, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath; Arthurstown, New Ross, Co Wexford; Dairyfarm, Castledermot, Co Kildare; and Oakpark, Carlow.
Genetic Concern called on Fianna Fail to honour its pre-election promise to place a moratorium on genetically modified crops pending consensus on their safety.
The environmental group, VOICE, accused the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, of doing nothing to resolve the controversy. When in opposition he had said his party would "not support what amounts to the largest nutritional experiment in human history with the consumer as guinea pig".
Monsanto said the trials were in line with "the four-year permission granted to the company by the EPA following the most stringent examination of our applications we have experienced worldwide". He added: "The trials we plan to carry out are exactly the same as those we undertook in Carlow last year; trials which were vandalised by those who claim they want to debate the issue of genetic engineering."
