Royal siblings at odds over GM crops
BRITAIN: Princess Anne has never been afraid to speak her mind - even if it involves going against everything Prince Charles believes in.
Now their differences are starker than ever, after she defied one of her brother’s most cherished principles by declaring that she would like to grow genetically modified produce on her Gloucestershire farm.
While Charles has been outspoken in his opposition to GM crops and runs his farm on strict organic lines, Anne says genetic technology could be the answer to providing affordable food.
‘‘If we are going to be better at producing food of the right value then, we have to accept that genetic technology, whether you call it modification or anything, is going to be part of that,’’ she told the BBC yesterday.
Charles has warned that GM foods could spawn ‘‘the biggest disaster’’ of all time. Anne, who farms at Gatcombe Park, dismissed those concerns.
‘‘To say we mustn’t go there, just in case, is probably not a practical argument,’’ she said. ‘‘In the future, genetic technology has real benefits to offer.’’
She added that there could be downsides, many’’.
Under European Union law, British farmers are only allowed to grow GM organisms under strict licence for scientific research.
Six farms are currently authorised for field trials.
A royal source said: ‘‘[Charles] thinks food security and human health are better served by making farming more healthy in the first place - better soil, better water, healthy ecosystems, reinvesting in natural capital.’’ - The Times but ‘‘not very