Farmers' fear, food future genetically modified

The European Union (EU) is still debating whether it should embrace genetically modified organisms (GMOs). But a group of European life scientists are determined to welcome China's GM rice.

At a one-day food meeting, sponsored by the European Action on Global Life Sciences (EAGLELS) in Brussels last week, the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) task group sent out a clear message that backed biotechnologists in China and other countries working on transgenic agriculture technology to ensure food security across the world.

Yet the controversy over GMOs, particularly the "over-strict regulatory framework" on GM food as Mark Cantley of Britain put it "has been disastrous for the progress of agricultural biotechnology" not only in Europe, but also elsewhere.