New GM soya beans give 25% greater yield in global food security boost

Trial is first successful demonstration of genetic engineering being used to directly target photosynthesis process

Genetically modified soya beans designed to absorb light more efficiently produced a 25% greater yield in an advance that could significantly boost global food supplies.

The field trials are the first successful demonstration that genetic engineering can be used to directly target the photosynthesis process in food crops. The improvements seen are almost unprecedented for this kind of intervention and would take decades to achieve through selective breeding.