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Biotechnology 'inevitable' says CLA

The state of the countryside half a century from now was the theme today (Saturday, 24 July 2010) of the CLA Deputy President’s Debate at The CLA Game Fair – with biotechnology, single farm payments and wasted food all exciting the interest of panelists and audience.

CLA Deputy President Harry Cotterell was joined by Countryfile presenter and farmer Adam Henson, former MP turned stand-up comedian Lembit Opik, and Katherine Sealy, representing the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, to debate the topic: "Thriving or Theme Park? Countryside in 2060."

On a question about biotechnology put by CLA Vice-President Henry Robinson, all three panelists agreed that the introduction to Britain of genetically modified (GM) crops was "inevitable".

Adam Henson said: "I am sure that GM will be an important part of agriculture in Europe…GM is inevitable."

Katherine Sealy said: "Until the Government invests in scientific research, consumers will not trust it [GM food], though I am afraid I agree that GM is inevitable."

Lembit Opik said: "Is GM inevitable? Yes, probably. If GM crops are cheaper than other crops, then they will do well."

Introducing the debate, CLA Deputy President Harry Cotterell said: "The pressures on the countryside will come from every direction: feeding the world, climate change, and the big biodiversity challenge. There is also the recreational aspect of the countryside including country sports."

On the question of what would have happened to single farm payments by 2060, Adam Henson said that frequently changing government policy meant it was impossible for farmers to plan or predict more than 12 months ahead.

He said: "We farm from year to year really. Who knows what will happen in a couple of years’ time? But I am absolutely certain that without my Single Farm Payment and environmental subsistence, I am out of a job."

Lembit Opik said that the public must learn to buy British for environmental reasons.

"It has to be made fashionable to buy British food," he said. "If we are serious about the environment, then we have got to start making serious environmental decisions. I have no objections to New Zealand but it takes 840,000 gallons of marine diesel to bring one consignment of lamb here. It is environmentally insane that we feed ourselves with New Zealand meat when you can get good meat from up the road."

Adam Henson said Britain should learn to throw away less food. "We must look at waste very carefully," he said. "We are wasting 160 million tons of food a year which gets chucked away because it is too round, too long or too short."

The CLA Deputy President said: "Very sadly, the majority of wasted food is in the home."