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British scientists have won a £6.4million grant from Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates to develop genetically modified crops. The Gates Foundation's donation is one of the largest single investments to the GM project in the UK.The John Innes Centre in Norwich will use the fund to cultivate corn, wheat and rice capable of taking nitrogen from the air, meaning they need little or no fertiliser.It is claimed the work will benefit struggling maize farmers in sub-Saharan Africa who cannot afford to treat their crops.The move comes after the European Food Safety Authority produced guidance on how to assess the environmental risks posed by GM fish, insects and animals, which campaigners warned could pave the way for widespread farming of GM products.Professor Giles Oldroyd from the John Innes Centre, told BBC News that the project was vital for poorer producers and could have a 'huge impact' on global agriculture.'We believe if we can get nitron fixing cereals we can deliver much higher yields to farmers in Africa and allow them to grow enough food for themselves.'