Harper Adams University chancellor Princess Anne speaks in favour of GM crops

Now she has put herself at odds with the Prince of Wales – by speaking out in favour of genetically modified crops.

The Princess Royal, who last visited the university near Newport when opening the Dairy Crest Innovation Centre last year, urged people to have an open mind about GM crops.

Harper Adams does pioneering work in how to improve yields at its Crop and Environment Research Centre.

Anne spoke of the importance for the world in exploring all methods.

She conceded the impact of GM crops might not be seen for a long time, but said to rule out the scientific technique "just in case" was not practical.

Her views appear contrary to Charles, a passionate organic farmer who in past years has spoken out against GM and is royal patron of the Soil Association. He has frequently tackled the topic over the last 20 years and remained critical of so-called "Frankenstein foods".

Anne's comments were made today's BBC Farming Today show.

The princess, who farms in Gloucestershire, said: "GM is one of those things that divides people, but surely if we're going to be better at producing food of the right value then we have to accept that genetic technology - whether you call it modification or anything else - is going to be part of that."

GM crops are not grown commercially in the UK and trials of scientifically engineered plants are stringently vetted.

The princess added: "Most of us will argue that we've been genetically modifying food since man started to be agrarian, but everybody will say, 'well, it doesn't happen so quickly'.

"So being able to understand what those changes mean, if you change one aspect of a plant, then how does it affect the rest of the environment around it, does it have a long-term impact? There's probably a very long-term impact and we may not see that for quite a long time.

"And to say, 'no, we mustn't go there just in case', is probably not a practical argument.

"And I do think that in the future, your gene technology has got real benefits to offer, which will have maybe an occasional downside, but I suspect not very many."

Asked if, in a post-Brexit UK where growing GM crops was allowed, she could see the plants being cultivated on her land, she replied "yes".

Liz O'Neill, director of campaign group GM Freeze, said: "The Princess Royal is right to point out that changing one aspect of a plant can affect the rest of the environment around it.

"GM-growing countries are already suffering what the US National Academy of Sciences identified as 'major agricultural problems' caused by the cultivation of GM crops. Herbicide resistant superweeds, reduced biodiversity and the contamination of conventional and organic crops are much more than 'occasional downsides'.

"The harm done by GM crops is already all too real. It shows that you can't solve systemic problems one gene at a time."