By William Surman

Genetically modified crops can help the world meet burgeoning food demand
and tackle issues such as climate change and water shortage, Monsanto has
declared.
Dr Colin Merritt, Monsanto?s biotechnology manager, said that GM crops can
offer higher yields than conventional crops at no risk to human health and
could therefore form part of the solution to the current food crisis.

?We think we can double yields of corn,? said Dr Merritt.

Monsanto are currently working on three types of crop that have the
potential to increase yields, benefit the environment and improve health
worldwide.

? Drought tolerant ? ?We are working on a drought tolerant corn. It is
targeted at the mid-West and drier areas of the US at the moment but we are
also working on products for Africa. We think in 15-20 years time drought
tolerant maize will increase yields in Africa by 20 million tonnes."

? Nitrogen utilisation efficiency ? ?We are working on ways of getting more
crop from less nitrogen. We think in around ten years time we will have a
product that will significantly reduce carbon footprint by limiting the
amount of nitrogen fertiliser."

? Omega 3 ? ?We are developing a land based source of omega 3 and think we
will have launched a new product to that end in 3-4 years that will have
huge health benefits.?

Dr Merritt said that GM was not the ogre that the media have projected.

?We have been growing GM crops around the world for 12 years now without any
adverse effects. The bottom line is that we need sustainable and high yield
crops and so it is time the EU saw GM as part of the solution,? said Dr
Merritt.
www.checkbiotech.org