Experts of science from the Royal Academy today outlined the need for Genetically Modified (GM) crops. Reasons allocated for such a requirement include the ever growing population, the subsequent food crisis and the infamous ‘Global Warming’. With passing time, the climate worsens and to survive these harsh conditions GM techniques will be required.

After being overlooked for a long time, the National Academy of Science called on the Government to invest up to £2 billion in crop research spread over the next 10 years. They called for modern and traditional (irrigation, crop management) techniques to come together to combat this scarcity as a united ‘New Revolution’ in agriculture.

Within a couple of decades, the scientists claim they would have ‘Super Crops’ that could fertilise themselves, were drought resistance and super efficient which could photosynthesise effectively.

These claims were not met with enthusiasm from all areas. The Friends of Earth’s food campaigner Kirtana Chandrasekaran accused the scientists of ‘sneaking in’ GM rather than using safer and already proven techniques as plant breeding, adding, "Science has a key role to play in reducing hunger and poverty, but the report's focus on GM crops ignores mounting evidence that this technology is failing”. Others like Tom MacMillan, Executive Director of the Food Ethics Council asked for the debate, to hand over such huge sum of money, to be open. He advocates for other beneficiary uses for the same.

In the end, the food shortage due to climate change and growing population is a foreseeable event. The only question lies is; which is the best way to tackle it: Genetic tampering or not?