Updated on Thursday, June 04, 2009, 18:49 IST

London, June 04: In a surprise move, the Vatican, which seldom approves scientists meddling with God's creation, has given its blessing to genetically-modified crops as a possible solution to world hunger and poverty.

Pope Benedict XVI's scientists endorsed GM crops at a week-long seminar held last month, the New Scientist reported today.

Participants at the meet, organised by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, agreed that the crops offer food safety and security, better health and environmental sustainability, the report said.

The decision 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.

However, some said the seminar excluded dissenters within the church who fear that GM technology allows multinationals to control agriculture at the expense of the poor.

Bureau Report