Environmentalist and former anti-GM activist Mark Lynas made headlines when he used the Oxford Farming Conference to announce he was now in favour of the technology.

Mr Lynas told delegates he regretted starting the anti-GM crop movement during the 1990s – demonising a technology he now believed could and should benefit the environment. His comments infuriated GM opponents.

“The GM debate is finished,” said Mr Lynas, adding that farmers should be free to grow GM crops, which could help feed the world’s poor. “We don’t need to continue to discuss it. You are more likely to get hit by an asteroid than to get hurt by GM food.”

The conference speech by Mr Lynas was downloaded more than 130,000 times in the four days after he delivered it. But it angered environmentalists who remain opposed to GM crops – some of whom pilloried Mr Lynas via email and social media.

Interest in GM technology seems to be growing among the farming sector too. DEFRA secretary Owen Paterson branded opponents to GM “wicked”, saying he wanted Britain to be at the forefront of a GM farming revolution across Europe.

But some scepticism remains, with a group of 85 European scientists, academics and physicians issuing a statement questioning claims of a consensus that GM foods are safe for human and animal health and for the environment.

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