THE introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops in to the UK was “inevitable”, panellists at the recent Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Game Fair agreed.

Adam Henson, farmer and BBC Countryfile presenter, said: “I am sure that GM will be an important part of agriculture in Europe. GM is inevitable.”

Katherine Sealy, from the National federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, said: “Until the Government invests in scientific research, consumers will not trust GM food, though I am afraid I agree that GM is inevitable.”

Lembit Opik, former Lib Dem MP, agreed and said: “If GM crops are cheaper than other crops, then they will do well.”

Introducing the debate on what the countryside would be like in 2060, Harry Cotterell, CLA deputy president, said: “The pressures on the countryside will come from every direction: feeding the world, climate change, and the big biodiversity challenge.

“There is also the recreational aspect of the countryside including country sports.”

On the question of what would have happened to single farm payments by 2060, Mr Henson said frequentlychanging government policy meant farmers could not plan more than 12 months ahead.

He said: “We farm from year to year really. Who knows what will happen in a couple of years’ time? But I am absolutely certain that without my single farm payment and environmental subsistence, I am out of a job.”

Mr Opik said the public should buy British for environmental reasons.

“If we are serious about the environment, then we have got to start making serious environmental decisions,” he said. “I have no objections to New Zealand, but it takes 840,000 gallons of marine diesel to bring one consignment of lamb here.

“It is environmentally insane that we feed ourselves with New Zealand meat when you can get good meat from up the road.”

Mr Henson said Britain should throw away less food.

“We are wasting 160 million tons a year, which is chucked away because it is too round, too long or too short,” he said.