Can genetics ease the food crisis?

WASHINGTON, April 21 (UPI) -- High food prices and global grain shortages may force governments from China to Britain to rethink opposition to genetically modified crops, analysts say.

Asian manufacturers are buying genetically modified corn for food stuffs, U.S. wheat growers look to biotechnology to boost yields and European agricultural leaders view engineered crops as a way to alleviate the strain on the worldwide agriculture market, The New York Times reported Monday.

Genetically modified crops that are disease resistant or drought tolerant could provide an alternative to alleviate the global stress.

"I think it's pretty clear that price and supply concerns have people thinking a little bit differently today," Steve Mercer with the U.S. Wheat Associates told the Times.

The re-evaluation comes as riots were reported in bread lines in Egypt and other regions, European livestock face critical feed shortages and biofuels strain the market.

Some global leaders aren't convinced genetics provide the answer, Hans Herren, co-chairman of an agriculture forum at the World Bank, told the Times.

"What farmers really are struggling with are water issues, soil fertility issues and market access for their products," he said.