2009-08-11 | permalink

UK Government sees GM foods as answer to self-sufficiency

Genetically modified crops could be part of the solution for making British agriculture more self-sufficient, Hilary Benn, environment minister, said yesterday as the government launched its first review of the nation’s food security. ”We need to produce as much food as we can ourselves,” Mr Benn said as he encouraged consumers to eat seasonally grown British vegetables - instead of out-of-season imports - as part of a drive to make the country less dependent on overseas producers. The UK, which only produces 61 per cent of the food it consumes, had experienced a ”wake-up call” in recent years with sudden oil and food price rises, he added.

• The Financial Times, UK: Britain sees GM foods as answer to self-sufficiency
• The Independent, UK: GM crops set for role in Britain’s food revolution
• The Independent, UK: Leading article: Genetically-modified food for thought
• Daily Mail, UK: GM crops ’needed to stop food shortages’, says Environment secretary
• Reuters, UK: Britain wants ”rethink” on food production
• The Guardian, UK: Supermarket offers and food waste targeted in goverment’s food strategy
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK: Radical rethink of food production required