KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A coalition of farmers, consumer associations and environmental groups is urging Malaysia’s National Biosafety Board to reject a proposed field trial of genetically modified rice, warning Tuesday the project could pose risks to food safety, the environment and farmers. The groups said the project is similar to one submitted for a field trial in Perlis state in 2019 that was later abandoned, and that they are renewing their earlier objections. The groups said their main concern is the potential for genetically modified material to contaminate conventional and wild rice through cross-pollination or other means. AdvertisingAbdul Rashid Yob, who heads a farmers association representing 200,000 members nationwide, pointed to previous negative experience with the herbicide-tolerant Clearfield rice. It has said the risk of cross-pollination is low and acknowledged the toxicological data for GMO rice hasn’t been ascertained.