Professor Robert Watson, Defra Chief Scientist, comments: "We don't need GM to solve the hunger problem of today...David King [previous Government Chief Scientist who claimed hunger in Africa was because they had not embraced GM crops] was absolutely wrong. Farmers in Africa can't afford the better seeds, they have no access to fertilisers and sprays and they have severe constraints over irrigation - you don't need GM to solve that." Watson also says that GM won't solve the problem of food waste, and while there may be a role for GM in the future is has been 'an oversold technology'.

Farmers Guardian (30 Jan, p.14)