Brown must embrace GM crops to head off food crisis - chief scientist

Gordon Brown was urged last night to bring back genetically modified crops and usher in a new era of nuclear power as part of a wide-ranging package to tackle the burden of population growth and climate change.

Sir David King, the government's chief science adviser, said GM technology was "crucial" for a green revolution capable of providing enough food for the global population, which is due to exceed 9 billion by 2050. He added that new nuclear power stations should be built to help meet carbon emission targets until alternative green energy sources become available.

King's comments came in a valedictory speech at the Royal Society yesterday evening. He is due to relinquish his post at the end of the year, making way for John Beddington, a biologist at Imperial College London.

The speech follows recent revelations in the Guardian that the government has given its backing to a fresh campaign by farmers and industry to introduce GM crops to Britain. In September, the Guardian reported that ministers believed public concerns over GM had softened.