Rift grows in GM debate

Although first generation genetically modified crops are now the norm in many parts of the world, researchers have failed to convince the public of their benefits and lack of environmental damage in other regions, including Europe. In spite of increasing hopes for the potential in GM crops, particularly in the wake of this year's hike in foodstuff prices, Britain's Prince Charles mounted a strong attack last month. The mass development of GM crops risks causing the world's worst environmental disaster, he warned. In his most outspoken intervention on the issue of GM food, the prince says that multinational companies are conducting an experiment with nature which has gone " seriously wrong ". His attack comes as the European Union is reassessing its negative position on GM crops as major producers such as Canada, the US and Brazil now routinely grow GM varieties and pose increasing problems for food imports to the EU. Prince Charles accuses firms of conducting a " gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong. Why else are we facing all these challenges, climate change and everything? " Relying on " gigantic corporations " for food, he says, will result in " absolute disaster ". " What we should be talking about is food security not food production — that is what matters and that is what people will not understand. And if they think it's somehow going to work because they have one form of clever genetic engineering after another then again count me out, because that will be guaranteed to cause the biggest disaster environmentally of all time. " Small farmers, in particular, would be the victims of " gigantic corporations " taking over the mass production of food. " I think it's heading for a real disaster, " he says. If they think this is the way to go we will end up with millions of small farmers all over the world " driven off their land into unsustainable, unmanageable, degraded and dysfunctional conurbations of unmentionable awfulness. " His comments come at a critical time. There is intense pressure for more GM production perceived as a means of tackling rising food costs and widespread shortages. Many scientists believe GM research is the only way to guarantee food for the world's growing population as the planet is affected by climate change. Features But Prince Charles is wary of crops …