GENETICALLY modified crops have a key role in meeting a massive surge in world demand for food over the next 15 years, a leading plant scientist says. CSIRO’s deputy chief of plant industries, Dr T. J. Higgins, says population growth and rising wealth could mean an extra 10 billion tonnes of food consumed each year by 2025. Responding to that extra demand was a ”mammoth task” which would require ”many tools” including the use of GM crops, Dr Higgins said.