Letter's of the year: Anger over GM crops

Sir: I am at a loss to fathom what need mankind has of genetically modified foods.

We are told by biotechnology companies and politicians that genetically modified foods are the solution to the developing world's ills. In the West we produce more food than we know what to do with. In the developing world people starve for a variety of reasons, few having anything to do with the inability of their lands to produce the food they need. Genetically modified foods will do little to help the starving in Africa, but stable government and an end to internecine slaughter will cure many of their woes.

Are we to believe that this wonder technology is to be given away at a price which the poorer nations could afford to pay?

Biotechnology companies are engaged in a race to acquire control over the methods of food production. No doubt the financial means will be found to foist this technology on an unsuspecting developing world and thus increase its dependency on the West.

SIMON TUDOR-PRICE

London SW15

19 February