The Observer Mankind has tinkered with plants for 10,000 years, creating hybrids and strains that now sustain nearly all our planet's six billion inhabitants. These crops are by-products of standard breeding techniques. What alarms green supporters and Prince Charles is the artificial nature of modern genetic technologies.
Farmers then use that herbicide to eradicate weeds in a field.
Scientists and crop companies say farm ers should be able to cut their weedkiller and fuel bills. At present, plants have to be dusted with a range of different herbicides, each designed to get rid of one specific species of weed. By making their crops resistant to a powerful, all-purpose herbicide, weedkilling can be done in a single spray each season. They claim that gene crops will cause farmers to use more herbicides, damage the environment and create dangerous monopolies in which a handful of GM crop companies will control seed and herbicide sales throughout the world. The first point is vociferously rejected by scientists.