Restrictions on genetically modified (GM) foods could negatively impact Europe’s competiveness in developing solutions to the global challenges of food security and climate change, the European Union’s first-ever chief scientific adviser, Anne Glover, said in an interview with PublicServiceEurope.com.  

Citing her research experience in molecular biology, Dr. Glover noted biotechnology’s contributions to innovation. “There has been an unparalleled acceleration of our knowledge generation through the use of GM,” she said.

Dr. Glover, who plans to focus on promoting the agricultural industry and sustainability, called on the European Union to consider biotechnology “based on evidence and not emotion.”

“By turning our backs on the evidence, there is a question over whether we are still going to be as competitive. We need to seriously look at GM crops when we tackle [to] the global problem of climate change and being able to feed the population of the world.” Read more.