Government’s ‘gung-ho‘ approach to GM will scare public

The environment secretary’s "gung-ho approach" to genetically modified (GM) foods risks alienating the public at a time when a calm and rational debate about the issue is needed.

That’s the view of shadow food and farming minister Huw Irranca-Davies in this exclusive podcast for FoodManufacture.co.uk.

While Irranca-Davies believes there is a “strong case” that GM production may be needed to increase food supplies and improve food security, he said the gung-ho pro-GM approach of environment secretary Owen Paterson risked “scaring the horses” before a sensible debate could take place.

Groceries Code Adjudicator

In a wide-ranging interview to gauge what the Labour Party’s views are on the key political issues affecting the industry, Irranca-Davies also explains why he has confidence that relationships between manufacturers and retailers will improve because of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.

He also outlines what he’d do if he was in power to plug the skills gap and encourage more people to work in the industry, and discusses why the drive for export growth needs to start with public procurement policies.

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