Professor Derek Burke, who is the former vice chancellor of the UEA was concerned that Britain and Europe may be left behind in the application of the emerging technology around the world.

Speaking at a seminar to launch a debate about genetically modified crops. Prof Burke rejected a ban on the technology. Instead, society should respond by regulating the coming change sot hat it is the least harmful and the most helpful.

He also argued that genitically modified foods have become the lightning rod for many concerns, which consumers hold about the modern food chain. Its regulatory processes and the consolidation of agric-food business into the hands of just half dozen companies world-wide.

"Consumers are concerned that decisions about their food future are being taken in Switzerland or America. They have lost control and blame the technology. Some wish to ban it altogether." he said.

The global area, excluding China of transgenic crops was 1.7 million hectares in 1996, 11 million ha in 1997 and 27.8 million ha this year - a 15-fold increase in three years.

" The five principal transgenic crops in 1998 in descending order were soya, maize, cotton, rape and potatoes. The principal benefits include flexibility in crop management, decreased dependency on conventional insecticides and herbicides, higher yields and cleaner and higher grade end product." he said.

He said that the producers in the USA have have reaped a collective benefit from growing GM (genetically modified) crops of an estimated $315 million in 1997, up from the $92 million in 1996. During this time, there has been no planting in the UK, he added.

He argued that modification of plants will be needed, primarily to feed the growing world population. The populations increasing at about 1.5 per cent per year, 87 million a year and is estimated to reach eight billion by 2020 - up from the present 5.9 billion.

Copies if the Royal Agricultural Society of England's 36-page booklet, Old Crops in New Bottles? can be obtained free - Communications Department RASE, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshireshire CV8 2LZ.