Chief Scientist Says GM And Nanotechnology Should Be Part Of Modern Agriculture

Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), Professor John Beddington said the world will have to produce 50 per cent more food by 2030 in order to feed the growing population. He said the only way to do this is to grow more crops on less land by using the latest scientific innovation, including GM and nanotechnology. “We need a greener revolution, improving production and efficiency through the food chain within environmental and other constraints. Techniques and technologies from many disciplines, ranging from biotechnology and engineering to newer fields such as nanotechnology, will be needed,” he said. Environmentalists, including the Prince of Wales, have warned against using both GM and nanotechnology because of the risk of upsetting delicate ecosystems in nature. But Prof Beddington insisted that the UK must at least research the new technology to ensure agriculture can cope with population growth in the future. The Government is supportive of research into GM and farmers want more funding to go into developing new crop breeds. Caroline Boin, Environment Programme Director at International Policy Network, said the public will have to accept GM eventually.

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