The multinational companies who control the development of genetically modified foods came in for strong criticism from IAWS chief executive Mr Philip Lynch, who said: "The market doesn't like the idea of GM foods; lobbyists won the day and the scientists lost the day."

"I believe that the scientists and the multinationals who control this technology made a balls of it," he continued. "I don't believe that they did anything to create comfort for consumers, and they simply forgot that the consumer is king. Monsanto had developed a fantastic technology and they blew it.

"What Monsanto is doing with GM foods is no more than what plant-breeders were doing 40 years ago with cross-pollination. GM production is no more than taking science forward."