In response to an industry-supported drive for greater research and development support, a food policy organisation has called for greater accountability in research spending and warned that UK industry and authorities have a history of "wasting [funding] on PR for GM crops."

Following the release of the Feeding the Future report, which outlines the industry vision for research and development funding between now and 2030, food policy commentators have called for more inclusivity in funding decisions and greater transparency over who is setting the UK's research agenda. 

The industry bodies behind Feeding the Future claim more research funding needs to be spent on new technologies and developing machinery, though food experts have said a paradigm shift is required in agriculture in order for food production to remain viable when facing the effects of climate change, dwindling resources and a growing, increasingly urbanised population.

In its submission to the Government consultation on agricultural research and technology today, policy organisation GeneWatch UK said decisions on what research to fund should be more open and accountable. The organisation, echoing concerns raised in October, also warned that lobbying by the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, which represents the major agribusinesses with an interest in promoting genetically modified crops in the UK, has led publicly-funded research in an unsustainable direction; leading to development of profitable products, rather than addressing food security in a socially just manner.

Dr Helen Wallace, the organisation's director, commented on Friday, "Agricultural research is critical to tackling many problems that we face in Britain and around the world. These decisions are too important to be made in dodgy deals behind closed doors. Taxpayers' money should not be wasted on unfulfilled promises and hype about GM, rather than accepting reality and funding things that work. We need research that helps farmers and consumers and provides genuine solutions to problems with our food supply, environment and diets."

On Thursday, commenting on the release of the Industry’s vision for future R&D spending, Dr Wallace suggested, "Too narrow a range of interests means important issues have been missed, such as how to sustain healthier diets and get more fruit and vegetables to low income families. The proposed increased role of the Levy Boards in setting the research agenda will raise questions for farmers about how well a narrow circle of individuals will represent their interests and improve market access for high-quality British produce here and abroad."

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