GM food: Cultivating fear.

This programme explores the new generation of genetic crops being currently produced, balancing viewpoints from those for and against GM food. 18 million farmers grow GM crops in 27 countries and billions of meals using GM foods are eaten every year. However, Britain is still reluctant to join them. The programme particularly focuses on a GM aubergine being grown in India and a GM potato currently being developed in England. In India, Hafizur Rahman talks about how the modified aubergine no longer requires the use of pesticides which has radically changed his life; Mark Lynas is a former anti-GM campaigner who has changed his mind since the Indian aubergines have been in production. In contrast we visit an organic farm in India where Farida Akhter is producing a type of wild aubergine which is naturally not affected by bugs so therefore doesn't need modification or pesticides. In Norfolk, Professor Jonathan Jones at the Sainsbury Laboratory is working on producing a GM super potato which will be modified to resist attack by round worms, it will suffere less bruising and plant disease. Helen Browning from The Soil Association is concerned that GM farming will change the nature of the English countryside and Doug Parr from Greenpeace UK believes cross-contamination from GM crops with non-GM is inevitable. A number of former anti-GM campaigners have changed their minds in recent years due to the latest scientific evidence in favour of GM farming - Stephen Tindale, former Executive Director of Greenpeace UK, believes the UK needs to move forwards on this and look at each GM product on a case by case basis, assessing benefits and safety. But will people in the UK buy products they know are GM? Justin King, former Sainsbury's Chief Executive, feels that lower prices and greater health benefits would change the minds of most consumers.