Vatican endorses GM crops [in exchange for a substantial tithe?]

SHOOT: GM crops go against the grain (so to speak) of what is happening in agriculture. They are costlier to produce in terms of buying the grain and the technology involved) and this knocks out many smaller producers, which also wipes out much needed diversity.
GM crops are the propononent of large industrialised, mechanised farms. Fertiliers and fuel are needed for such farming operations. It's not going to happen over the longer term. I imagine the church were paid an incentive by corporate interests to justify their endorsement, because otherwise it makes little sense.

clipped from www.newscientist.com THE Vatican seldom approves of scientists meddling with God's creation. So the decision of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences to back oft-demonised genetically modified crops as an answer to world hunger and poverty may come as a surprise. GM crops were heartily endorsed at a week-long seminar held by the academy in mid-May. Participants agreed that the crops offer food safety and security, better health and environmental sustainability. That verdict is not shared by the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development, a global UN-backed think tank that last year rejected GM as a solution to hunger.