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British GM crop scientists win $10m grant from Gates | British GM crop scientists win $10m grant from Gates |
(40 minutes later) | |
A team of British plant scientists has won a $10m (£6.4m) grant from the Gates Foundation to develop GM cereal crops. | A team of British plant scientists has won a $10m (£6.4m) grant from the Gates Foundation to develop GM cereal crops. |
It is one of the largest single investments into GM in the UK and will be used to cultivate corn, wheat and rice that need little or no fertiliser. | It is one of the largest single investments into GM in the UK and will be used to cultivate corn, wheat and rice that need little or no fertiliser. |
It comes at a time when bio-tech researchers are trying to allay public fears over genetic modification. | It comes at a time when bio-tech researchers are trying to allay public fears over genetic modification. |
The work at the John Innes Centre in Norwich is hoped to benefit African farmers who cannot afford fertiliser. | The work at the John Innes Centre in Norwich is hoped to benefit African farmers who cannot afford fertiliser. |
Cereal crops | Cereal crops |
Agricultural fertiliser is important across the globe. | |
But the poorest farmers cannot afford fertiliser - and it is responsible for large greenhouse gas emissions. | But the poorest farmers cannot afford fertiliser - and it is responsible for large greenhouse gas emissions. |
The John Innes Centre is trying to engineer cereal crops that could get nitrogen from the air - as peas and beans do - rather than needing chemical ammonia spread on fields. | The John Innes Centre is trying to engineer cereal crops that could get nitrogen from the air - as peas and beans do - rather than needing chemical ammonia spread on fields. |
Success could revolutionise agriculture, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation wants to help struggling maize farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. | Success could revolutionise agriculture, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation wants to help struggling maize farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. |
Opponents of GM say results will not be achieved for decades at best and global food shortages could be addressed now through improving distribution and cutting waste. | Opponents of GM say results will not be achieved for decades at best and global food shortages could be addressed now through improving distribution and cutting waste. |
Giles Oldroyd, from the John Innes Centre, said the project was vital for poorer African farmers and would have a huge impact on global agriculture. | Giles Oldroyd, from the John Innes Centre, said the project was vital for poorer African farmers and would have a huge impact on global agriculture. |
See more on this story on BBC One's Countryfile at 20:00 BST on Sunday 15 July | See more on this story on BBC One's Countryfile at 20:00 BST on Sunday 15 July |