Farming ‘must be ready for change’

8:19am Monday 3rd December 2007

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THE Government has been criticised for its attitude towards genetically modified technology in agriculture.

Speaking in North Yorkshire, Sean Rickard, former chief economist of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said it was shameful that Britain lagged so far behind other countries in adapting to genetic modification.

He said: "It used to be the case that Britain - England - was one of the leaders in the world when it came to science and agriculture.

"We used to be able to hold our head up and say we were at the vanguard, but we are behind in this one and it is probably the most important."

Mr Rickard, senior lecturer in economics at the Cranfield University school of management, was speaking at British Potato 2007, held by the British Potato Council in Harrogate.

He said that genetic modification was needed to cope with the extremes of climate change and to meet the demands created by the growing population of the world.

Mr Rickard said the technology would change farming out of all recognition and likened it to changes in communications.

He said: "In 1989, no one saw the internet coming. It arrived in 1993 and has changed our lives out of all recognition.

"Genetic modification - biotechnology - is the next big technological driver of the world and the sooner you get into it, the better."

Mr Rickard was dismissive of low-input farming practices such as organic production.

Supporters often said it would help prevent climate change, but he said that he believed it was already too late.

He said: "How can we possibly begin to meet the enormous demands if we go down the road which is going to lead to less output?

It really does not add up."