Monsanto's executive vice president and chief operating officer Hugh Grant called for UK consumers to be given the chance to eat GM foods. He said the ultimate decision should be given to the public. "This would provide real consumer choice between organic food, conventional food and food produced through GM technology. There's a place for all kinds of agriculture in response to consumer demand." He added that allowing biotech agriculture would also give farmers more choice and let them compete better with their counterparts in the US and Latin America. Although the UK was the birthplace of biotechnology 20 years ago, the British hadn't taken advantage of it, while the rest of the world was passing them by. "UK farming is falling behind other parts of the world.Biotech products are one more tool that could allow them to weather the storm." The technology would allow farmers to grow crops in a more sustainable way. He said a consensus had emerged among European scientists that GM products were safer than conventional crops because they used less pesticides and micro-toxins. He cited examples of GM cotton fields in the US to which birds were returning because of the reduction in pesticide use. "It obviously has an impact on the abundance of wildlife, and we have the potential to see the same results in East Anglia." He went on: "The myths are man made. Latest research has shown that 50% of consumers are prepared to try products that contain GM crops. Retailers are the gatekeepers of advice for the public." Monsanto argues that another 30-40% more food will soon be needed to feed the world's growing population. It is already making big strides in other countries, and worldwide, biotech crops now cover a 110 million acre area - 25 times bigger than in 1996. Grant predicted that there would be an emergence of crops including biofuels (low emission fuels made from plants), golden rice and more nutritious plants in the next two to three years. To allow the UK to capitalise on this, he urged the audience to return to a more rational outlook. "The UK faces a very difficult situation in the future which is almost untenable if this moratorium approach continues." {{NEWS }}