The Grocer

Boffins Urge Crop Watch

UK Scientists are urging the government to set up an independent body to check up on farmers growing genetically modified crops.

The UK academy of science, The Royal Society, says GMO's could be the answer to feeding an expanding global population - offering real benefits to agriculture, food quality, nutrition and health - but a new cross departmental body should be set up to "monitor the enforcement and scope of regulations and strengthen the guidelines".

British Sugar says it hasn't ruled out the use of genetically modified sugar beet in the future, but is "carefully monitoring the progress of new gene technologies".

And the firm - which makes Silver Spoon - says it will take into account both "customers' and end consumers' views towards this technology" before it makes any move.