Farming
‘Backward’ attitude to GM crops is attacked
THE UK and European Union
have been urged to stop opposing
genetically modified (GM) crops.
The National Beef Association
(NBA) was responding to booming
world demand for food, growing
shortages, and declining domestic
livestock production.
It said food was no longer
cheap or abundant, and agriculture
must not be hampered by
"backward and protectionist" attitudes
to GM technology.
Duff Burrell, NBA chairman,
said modern technology was essential
for farmers to grow more
on increasingly limited land.
"The production of both cereals
and meat will reduce at the
same time as shop prices reach
toe-curling levels, unless GM aids
become part of UK and EU farming's
routine tool kit," he said.
The NBA says only one GM
crop, an insect resistant maize
planted on 110,000 hectares, is authorised
for use within the EU.
In contrast, exporters like the
US and Argentina grow almost
80m hectares of GM crops which
raise yields. Brazil, Canada, India
and China are following suit.
Mr Burrell said as Europe becomes
more reliant on imports,
consumers will buy more products
containing GM ingredients.
The NBA said Prof Sir David
King, the UK's former chief scientist,
estimated the UK's failure
to embrace GM crops had cost its
cereal sector £4bn in lost output.
11:03am Tuesday 15th April 2008
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