Clive Beddall Copenhagen GM food promoters have a high profile European ally in the shape of the next president of the EU farm council, Danish food minister Mariann Fischer Boel. In an exclusive interview during the Danish bacon industry's annual convention here last weekend, she told The Grocer: "I would eat food that contained GM ingredients. I do not believe that it is dangerous." And while emphasising that she believed it was important that all products containing GM ingredients were fully labelled, she declared: "If we want to help the peoples of the Third World, GM seeds will be necessary." Although pointing out that that she was "quite interested" in the prospects for organic production, Boel made it clear she did not go as far down the green route as her equally outspoken German opposite number, Renate Künast, who is strongly promoting the growth of organic and environmental farming methods. Boel went on: "It is ridiculous to produce a product which no-one wants to buy. It is important that farmers can sell what they produce. For example, we produce too much organic milk in Denmark. This has then to be sold as ordinary milk, resulting in poor prices for organic producers." The Danish government, as a result, was seeking possible export markets for organic produce, with Germany seen as a potential growth area. Boel added: "We should always remember that consumers will decide what they want to buy." Boel, who is part of the famous Boel dairy family dynasty in Denmark ­ her grandfather invented Danish Blue cheese ­ becomes farm council head when Denmark takes over the EU presidency on July 1. This weekend, she chairs an informal session in Denmark to discuss EU agri-food issues, which will also be attended by DEFRA secretary of state Margaret Beckett. {{NEWS }}

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