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Bishop Gives His Blessing To GM Crops

(Summary)

The new Bishop of Ely, the Right Rev Anthony Russell has spoken out in favour of crop trials for genetically modified crops. The Bishop believes that the negative opinion of many people about GM foods is mostly based on "media excitement" and not on scientific evidence.

Bishop Russell also stated that GM crops may be the answer to food related problems in the developing world as well as that of Britain. Rev Russell, who heads one of the Church of England's most rural dioceses, said GM crops require less chemicals and may be cheaper to produce.

Farmers within the Bishops diocese stand to gain by the use of these new crops because of lower energy input into production with higher yields in return.

It is hoped by the Government Ministers that the church will allow the use of 123,000 acres of its land for GM crop testing conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture reports The Times.