The GM Food Debate

... The GM Food Debate As a nation, we are currently undergoing a crucial and constant debate on the whether or not we should be using genetically-modified, or GM crops. This is not an argument against unnatural farming-what we call 'conventional farming' is not in itself, a natural process. The crops grown today are very different from their wild ancestors. Most UK crops originated in distant parts of the world. Since early times, average yields have increased massively. Early in the 20th century the UK wheat yield was around 2 tonnes per hectare; now it is typically over 7 tonnes per hectare. This is due to the use of fertilisers, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, as well as the expertise of seed breeders. At the same time, however, there has bee a reduction in the number and diversity of the wildlife. In the last 30 years, 24 of the 40 bird species which

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