GM food opponents are 'wicked' and leave small children in poorest parts of the world to die, minister Owen Paterson claims

Environment Secretary backs 'golden rice' fortified with vitamin A

Opponents who sabotage crops accused of risking lives in poor countries



'It's disgusting that little children are allowed to go blind and die,' he claims

Anger: Environment Secretary Owen Paterson argues 'golden rice' could save lives in the poorest parts of the world

Opponents of genetically modified crops have been condemned as ‘wicked’ by the Cabinet minister in charge of what the country eats.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson stepped up his attack on green groups who campaign against GM, warning they are scuppering crucial nutrition programmes in the developing world.

He said it was ‘disgusting’ that small children in poor countries were left to die because a small group of people opposed the development of GM crops.

In particular Mr Paterson said the sabotage of a crop of ‘golden rice’ - which is fortified with vitamin A to combat blindness and has the potential to save lives – was risking lives.

The Environment Secretary, a longstanding advocate of GM technology, has previously claimed its adoption in the UK could be as significant as the agricultural revolution.

He argues that 'golden rice' which could be grown in the world's poorest countries was first created in 1999 but has not been used to help solve global hunger.

‘It's just disgusting that little children are allowed to go blind and die because of a hang-up by a small number of people about this technology,’ he told The Independent.

‘I feel really strongly about it. I think what they do is absolutely wicked.’

Speaking of the potential benefits of GM farming, he said: ‘There are 17 million farmers, farming 170 million hectares which is 12 per cent of the world's arable area, seven times the surface area of the UK (with GM) and no one has ever brought me a single case of a health problem.’

Mr Paterson was echoing comments he made earlier in the summer when he said GM crops have the potential to improve the environment and save lives.

He claimed the intense scrutiny placed on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) would actually mean they are safer foods than those produced using conventional means.

Criticism: Opponents of Mr Paterson said adopting GM food could harm Britain's reputation

He added there was ‘no substantiated case’ of an adverse impact on health.

But opponents of GM methods say it contributes to intensive farming practices and pesticide use that are environmentally damaging and that it will not tackle problems facing agriculture or deliver secure food supplies for the world's growing population.

The only benefits are for the large agricultural businesses that develop and sell the technology, they claim.

Speaking in The Independent today, Mr Paterson also defended the Government's badger cull to prevent bovine TB, and criticised animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA that have opposed it.

‘I cannot understand anyone wanting to tolerate this disgusting disease,’ he said.