Worlds Apart - Brief Article

In May this year, Baroness Hayman of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food launched a consultation on the future of the food chain. As a result, the Food Chain and Crops for Industry Panel produced a report outlining various possible scenarios of what life might be like with or without biotechnology.

There are many possible future worlds, they say. There is the Brave World, 'where the benefits of scientific advances have been realised throughout the food chain, generating enormous commercial opportunities from technology transfers and attended benefits to consumers'. Then there is the New World where 'the population has resented and resisted many applications of biotechnology... A healthy diet is related to per capita income... many thousands of people suffer the consequences of dietary deficiencies'.

Also, there is the Lost World, where 'the mass media control the flow of information to members of the general public, who are sufficiently educated to distinguish between entertainment and important health messages'. Finally there is the Stone World, 'a primitive existence, where populations are controlled by famine, disease and war, rather than humane planning.' Presented thus, which future would you choose?

What you can do: The government is inviting comments from the public on the future of food. Get a copy of the report from the DTI Office of Science & Technology on tel +44 207 215 6705 or fax +44 207 2156760. www.foresight.gov.uk Respond by 31 July.

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