Feed the world
Three hundred million people in Africa rely on maize for their main source of food. But soon it could become a way to improve health too.
Eye problems are widespread in Africa, where many people don't get enough vitamin A. Scientists are now working to cross-breed ordinary maize with a variety that contains a substance our bodies can easily convert into the missing vitamin.
Traditional plant breeding programmes like this could also result in better harvests – with no need to use GM technology at all.
Raph says: 'Shouldn't we use tried-and-tested natural methods to improve crops, rather than toying with GM technologies?'