GM supporter criticises EU opposition to GM crops

A supporter of genetically modified crops has claimed that Ireland and Europe are losing out because of their opposition to the introduction of such crops.

Dr Clive James made the claim at a press conference at the headquarters of the employers' body IBEC in Dublin today.

"If Europe does not move relatively fast, then they will probably miss out on the most important technology from a biological point of view in the 21st century," he said.

Dr James is chairman of a charitable organisation that promotes the use of GM crops to alleviate hunger in the developing world.

Opponents of the technology claim GM crops do nothing to alleviate hunger and actually leave poor farmers dependent on the multinational companies that own the patents for such crops.