The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

Princess Royal says use of GM crops an ‘advantage’

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The Princess Royal has said the use of GM crops has been an “enormous advantage” in specific environmen­ts, contrastin­g with her brother Prince Charles’ opposition to the practice.

Anne said that she had occasional “but rather short” conversati­ons with the Prince of Wales about farming, with the pair owning land near to each other in Gloucester­shire.

She told Australian Women’s Weekly: “It has been an enormous advantage in many parts of the world to use GM wisely for very specific environmen­ts.

“It makes it much more likely to be able to grow what you need.

“I have to remind people that rapeseed oil was only made nontoxic to humans by the Canadians after the Second World War by geneticall­y modifying the plant. It’s (ironically) quite popular with all those people who don’t like GM.”

Charles is a passionate organic farmer who has previously spoken out against GM and is royal patron of the Soil Associatio­n, which has campaigned against GM crops and ingredient­s in human and animal food.

Anne’s views also contrast to those of her older brother’s on climate change, saying she would not “go down the climate change route” when looking for causes of Australia’s devastatin­g bush fires.

She told the magazine: “I don’t even go down the climate change route.

“I think the way people manage ground is part of the discussion.

“Climate changes all the time. It has done so throughout the globe’s history, so there’s nothing new under the sun.

“Somehow, we’ve got to learn that our kind of life is changing.

“We’ve got to remember to respect what’s out there and how to live with it.”

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