The government has been urged to focus on innovation, back public-private partnerships and reopen the debate on GM or risk the UK being left behind.

Professor Peter Lillford of the University of York last week told the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment that consumers are looking to the government to lead their education on biotechnology but he admitted that for now, the issue was “too diffuse and distant for consumers to get a handle on it”.

Lillford said: “Consumers are now watching the progress and can see that it is not as frightening as they thought. If we can put the case for GM in the face of rising food prices and other factors, I believe they will listen. Consumers will have to take part in this debate. I think we need to have the GM debate continuously and if we start it again, it would be worthwhile because they are more prepared to consider it.”

Lillford gave evidence for the inquiry into innovation in EU agriculture alongside Food Standards Agency chief executive Tim Smith, Morrisons head of agriculture David Evans, Morrisons corporate services director Martyn Jones and Which? chief policy adviser Sue Davies.

Lillford called for the revival of regional supply chains and said that when it comes to innovation, “I really believe that there can be co-existence between large and small companies”.

Evans warned that “farmers do not have the cash and level of profit to take the risk on innovation”, but said Morrisons is among those investing in research programmes for suppliers.

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