GM foods 'could feed growing population during climate change'

Genetically modified (GM) crops could be grown in England as part of controversial field trials into the role of the new technology in tackling climate change

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent Last Updated: 9:10PM GMT 22 Jan 2009

In a passionate outburst in The Daily Telegraph last year, Prince Charles warned millions of small farmers would be put out of business and land would be degraded if GM crops were introduced around the world.
However in a debate at the Science Museum, Bob Watson, the chief scientific adviser at the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said the technology must be investigated in light of global food security.
"People are asking how we will be able to feed the world's growing population during a time of dangerous climate change," he said. "While GM is clearly not the whole answer, it may contribute through improved crop traits such as temperature, drought, pest and salinity tolerance. Hence additional scientific studies will allow us to assess the risks and benefits."
At the moment there are no plans for any experiments in the UK after the last two trials were destroyed by campaigners.
But Prof Watson said new trials are needed.
He said the public had a right to know when and where trials are happening, therefore the only way to ensure security is to improve confidence through educating people - including Prince Charles.
"Prince Charles is entitled to his opinion. What we need to do as a scientific community is to understand the issues around the agricultural technology and to present the information to the public at large and people like Prince Charles," he said.
"We need a general information flow to make sure people understand what is going on, that the experiments are being conducted in a totally valid way and there is oversight to ensure the results are credible so we have an informed and educated public that understands the value and the potential risks.
" I would hope we could come up with a system where we can do proper licensed field trials and make sure they are secure."
However Peter Melchett, policy director at the Soil Association, said the public were already aware of the science around GM and that is why they are against field trials.
"The risk of contamination of non-GM and organic crops is a reality and I do not think we have the right in destroying the right of farmers to grow non-GM crops and consumers to eat non-GM food," he said.