New work at the John Innes Centre in Norwich is hoped to benefit African farmers who cannot afford fertilizer.
Fertilizer is essential, it has made it possible to feed billions, but it brings pollution and farmers in poor countries who can't afford seed and lots of fertilizer might be able to afford seed that needs no chemicals to turn into food.
A team of British plant scientists has won a $10m (£6.4m) grant from the Gates Foundation to develop GM corn, wheat and rice, cereal crops that are staples worldwide. It is one of the largest single investments into GM in the UK. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation focuses heavily on making lives better in sub-Saharan Africa and this kind of science-based progress will help.
Opponents of biology say basic research into new GM crops will take too long, and that food shortages could be addressed now through improving distribution and cutting waste.
