Genetic modification can help us feed the world with wheat

Crop scientists must adopt genetic modification (GM) in order to meet the world's swelling appetite for wheat and avoid widespread starvation in the future, according to the breeding manager at Europe's biggest wheat business.

Limagrain's Bill Angus commented that demand for the cereal was expected to rise by 50% by the year 2030. He claimed that traditional plant breeding techniques had raised yields and "put off the day of reckoning". But he said a new "green revolution" was required to capitalise on the diversity of global wheat strains. He also claimed GM would be necessary in situations where traditional plant breeding techniques could not generate the required properties.

"We ought to start looking at it as a 10-year process," said Angus. "If we don't, we are not doing our children or our children's children any favours ... If we don't look at this the world is going to starve." Limagrain marketing director David Pearson agreed: "You could argue that the best way to go organic is to go GM."

Angus expects GM to be a core part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' new research strategy, to be published in the autumn.

Since Limagrain was a major organic seed supplier, it could not be accused, alongside the agrichemicals sector, of defending sales of insecticides, herbicides and fertilisers, said Angus. But, contrary to claims made by environmental lobby groups, he argued there was clear evidence that GM crops helped reduce input of fertilisers, insecticides and herbicides.

He gave examples of areas in which GM technology could be necessary, including protecting wheat crops against slug attack and helping UK distillers switch from using wheat to maize. Angus suggested that if distillers could make GM UK maize mimic wheat's starch levels, this would release more wheat for other food uses.

"That could have huge environmental benefits," he concluded.