Microsoft owner Gates told the BBC’s Today programme that GM techniques had a place alongside more conventional methods, particularly if they prevented many people dying of starvation.
He said: “Some of the work we [The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation] are doing to create new seeds involves GM techniques, but a lot of it does not. What we end up with is a set of products with which African countries can decide what they want to use.
“It’s a little bit like using drugs; you have to have scientists look at the risks. If the risk is very low and it can prevent starvation, then the tool may go into use.”
Poverty crisis
Gates’ view was supported by CPA chief executive Dominic Dyer. He urged policy makers to recognise that access to the most advanced farming technologies was “essential” to tackle the growing food poverty crisis.
“The key challenge therefore is to persuade decision-makers at an EU level that future farm policies must reflect the pressing global need to produce more food,” he added.
“The reality is that current EU policy in areas such as biotechnology and crop protection is blocking progress and stifling investment in new research.”
Dyer also said that consumers tended to understand the link between domestic food prices and the impact of global factors such as population growth, climate change and rising oil prices.
As a result, they were more willing to embrace the use of agricultural innovation and therefore increase food supplies, he added.
His comments follow Tuesday’s Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons, which saw MPs discussing the challenge of rising food prices and the impact of food poverty on the diets of lower income households in the UK.
Science and technology
The CPA is now calling on the EU to prevent prejudice blocking the advancement of science and technology by creating a science-based regulatory environment for the agricultural sector.
“Advances in plant science and crop protection will continue to be denied to Europe’s food producers and consumers without a science-based EU regulatory environment,” warned Dyer.
Gates agreed that the contribution of research and development to increased productivity had been neglected in recent years.
He said: “There was a miracle of increased farm productivity, called the Green Revolution, in the 70s but then in the last decade we backed off. Now we’re realising that was a mistake. We need to get back in there and fund the research and education.”
“It’s amazing that if you give farmers, who have these small plots of land, better seeds and train them better, then with their extra output, they send their kids to better schools and they make sure they’re kids have enough nutrition. It really makes a fundamental difference in their lives.”
Gates is set give a talk at the London School of Economics at 1pm today, where he will cover the key themes of his annual letter from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
10 comments (Comments are now closed)
Independent research, yes; corporate bullying, no
Sorry, Bill. You've become an apologist for the giant corporations that are forcing their technology on farmers and consumers. GM techniques are simply a way for Monsanto, Dow, and the other bio-tech giants to patent life forms, tie farmers up with harsh licensing agreements, and control more and more of the food supply.
And EU policy is not a problem; it is a reflection of what the vast majority of citizens and farmers in the EU want. What a novel idea; policy makers actually listening to their citizens, rather than vested corporate interests.
PS: And haven't you noticed that the 'promise' of GM techniques appears to be a sham?
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Posted by Philip
08 February 2012 | 17h06
First sterilising vaccinations, now GM products to control world population
If GM products are so good for consumers why so much resistance against mandatory GM food labelling? This advocacy of Bill Gates of GM foods would be justified if he showed proof he is already consuming them in his family. Of course not. The short end of the stick is always reserved for the poor populations of the world.
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Posted by Lucio Vanderlei Paiva
02 February 2012 | 15h18
As long as he and his family are first in line for testing the fruit of his labour
Let them eat what his scientists produce. He is one scary dude.
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Posted by cc
30 January 2012 | 04h49
GMOs
You've read this article, now check out these websites.
responsibletechnology.org
seedsofdeception.com
healthiereating.org
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Posted by Karen Whissen
30 January 2012 | 00h49
Consider the source
Has not Mr Gates has spoken on the subjest of eugenics and population control to such groups as 'The Club of Rome and the Bilderberg Group? If so, his promotion on GM foods may cast doubt as to their 'benefit' to mankind.
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Posted by John Sheridan
29 January 2012 | 18h18
Bill Gates eats this food?
I guarantee that Bill Gates would never eat this garbage or allow it to be fed to his family
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Posted by Steve Edwards
29 January 2012 | 09h45
Gates mistake
Mr Gates commits a mistake when he thinks that GM crops will produce more earnings for poor small farmers in the third world. He doesn´t understand the dynamics of agricultural markets. The introduction of GM crops will reduce the price of agricultural goods. As a result, the poorest farmers will reduce their earnings, not the opposite. Better educational levels will be achieved by solid public policies, not with GM crops.
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Posted by Pedro
27 January 2012 | 10h24
GM seeds are not the solution
Genetically modified seeds cannot solve the crisis and farm productivity will not be not be increased, as can be seen in India on Bt cotton fields. So please stop these experiments.
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Posted by Pankaj Bhushan
27 January 2012 | 05h48
GM to feed the world
It is hard to discuss GM without an examination of environmental, social and ecological conditions. But, from my point of view, science without morality is pointless.
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Posted by Zsolt
26 January 2012 | 09h38
GM to feed the world
It's the most promising way to end hunger. It is a great tragedy that hunger has not been reduced more effectively by this time.
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Posted by Linda
25 January 2012 | 21h46
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