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| Prince 'must prove anti-GM claim' | Prince 'must prove anti-GM claim' |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Prince Charles must prove his claim that GM crops could cause a global environmental disaster, Environment Minister Phil Woolas has challenged. | Prince Charles must prove his claim that GM crops could cause a global environmental disaster, Environment Minister Phil Woolas has challenged. |
| In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, the minister said it is now down to the opponents of genetically modified food to prove it is unsafe. | In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, the minister said it is now down to the opponents of genetically modified food to prove it is unsafe. |
| "If it has been a disaster then please provide the evidence," he said. | "If it has been a disaster then please provide the evidence," he said. |
| On Wednesday Prince Charles said firms developing GM crops risk the biggest environmental disaster "of all time". | On Wednesday Prince Charles said firms developing GM crops risk the biggest environmental disaster "of all time". |
| The government's initial response to the prince's comments in sister paper the Daily Telegraph was to say that it welcomed all voices in the "important" debate and that safety was a priority. | The government's initial response to the prince's comments in sister paper the Daily Telegraph was to say that it welcomed all voices in the "important" debate and that safety was a priority. |
| 'Africa strategy' | 'Africa strategy' |
| However, on Sunday Mr Woolas went further, saying it was the government's "moral responsibility" to investigate whether genetically modified crops could help provide a solution to hunger in the developing world. | However, on Sunday Mr Woolas went further, saying it was the government's "moral responsibility" to investigate whether genetically modified crops could help provide a solution to hunger in the developing world. |
| "We see this as part of our Africa strategy," he said. | "We see this as part of our Africa strategy," he said. |
| "It's easy for those of us with plentiful food supplies to ignore the issue but we have a responsibility to use science to help the less well off where we can. | "It's easy for those of us with plentiful food supplies to ignore the issue but we have a responsibility to use science to help the less well off where we can. |
| "I'm grateful to Prince Charles for raising the issue. He raises some very important doubts that are held by many people. | "I'm grateful to Prince Charles for raising the issue. He raises some very important doubts that are held by many people. |
| [A] gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong Prince of Wales class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7558585.stm">Analysis: Is the Prince right? class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5236&edition=1&ttl=20080817084444">Send us your comments "But government ministers have a responsibility to base policy on science and I do strongly believe that we have a moral responsibility to the developing world to ask the question: can GM crops help?" | |
| Earlier this week the Prince of Wales warned future reliance on corporations to mass produce food would drive millions of farmers off their land. | Earlier this week the Prince of Wales warned future reliance on corporations to mass produce food would drive millions of farmers off their land. |
| He said huge multi-national corporations involved in developing GM foods were conducting a "gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong". | He said huge multi-national corporations involved in developing GM foods were conducting a "gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong". |
| What should be debated was "food security not food production", he said. | What should be debated was "food security not food production", he said. |
| The prince's comments come at a time of rising world food prices and food shortages. | The prince's comments come at a time of rising world food prices and food shortages. |
| The biotech industry says that GM technology can help combat world hunger and poverty by delivering higher yields from crops and also reduce the use of pesticides. | The biotech industry says that GM technology can help combat world hunger and poverty by delivering higher yields from crops and also reduce the use of pesticides. |
| However, green groups and aid agencies have doubts about GM technology's effectiveness in tackling world hunger and have concerns about the long-term environmental impact. | However, green groups and aid agencies have doubts about GM technology's effectiveness in tackling world hunger and have concerns about the long-term environmental impact. |