Vatican backs off perceived approval to modified food

A Vatican cardinal has backed off the Holy See's perceived approval of biotech crops by saying farmers in the developing world shouldn't be dependent on foreign multinationals for their seeds.

Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, a Ghanian who heads the Vatican's office for justice and peace, likened such economic dependence on big corporations to a new form of slavery.

The United States, home to major multinationals that produce biotech seeds and crops, has lobbied the Vatican for years to persuade it to come out in favour of genetically modified organisms.

For years Turkson's predecessor, Cardinal Renato Martino, obliged, speaking out favourably. 

Turkson reversed course in an interview Tuesday with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.

SIC: AP/INT'L