Monday, July 7, 2008

William Surman

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.


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