According to Molly Consibee, director of campaigns and communications at the UK's Soil Association, honesty is essential when discussing the inability of technologies like GM (genetic modification) to feed a growing world population.
Following the recent publication of Foresight report 'The Future of Food and Farming', Ms Conisbee stated that GM food had 'failed to deliver against its promises', in spite of the 'billions being pumped in'.
'The majority of the world is fed by small, local, often organic farmers,' she said. 'These systems are better for the environment, better for animal and human welfare, and offer more resilience to issues such as the rise in oil and fertiliser price rise shocks.'
Ms Conisbee said that, 'contrary to the pro-GM advance publicity', the report included great support for methods such as organic.
'In particular, it highlights the need for research in agronomy, agro-ecology, soil science and other areas that have been neglected in recent years,' she said.
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