GM food’s standing goes up in the world

Julian Little, public affairs manager for Bayer CropScience, told the Masstock SMART Farm Event: “Things have definitely improved. Although UK and EU consumers still have concerns, there is a good understanding that GM crops can help feed a rising population.

“In the past 15 years, over two trillion meals which contain GM ingredients, have been eaten worldwide – with not one health-related issue or concern.”

Countryfile presenter Adam Henson was also among the speakers. Asked for his best words of advice, he said: “The Oxford English Dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.”

Earlier, in the week, at the college’s Rural Business Conference, David Neale, business development manager for Masstock Arable, said plant science could deliver great benefits even without GM.

Dairy expert David Alvis, from Winstone Agribusiness Consulting, defended the controversial idea of giant dairy farms.

He said Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana, USA, had 32,000 cows, producing an average 12,000 litres of milk a year, without needing antibiotics or hormones.