He said criticisms that companies such as Monsanto were focusing solely on research that benefited their own bottom line had only arisen because of the increase of private sector research.

"Since 1985, public sector agriculture spending is down significantly right across the world," Dr Glick said.

"In the absence of public funding, the private sector has stepped in and is doing this work to develop new technologies in agriculture.

"We are the first ones to suggest that there should be more public sector investment in R&D."

Dr Glick said an ideal research model would have private and public R&D complementing each other, and flowing through into the extension arena, and the work being taken up by the farming sector.

He said such an arrangement would make best use of the strengths of each sector.

"The public sector is good at some things the private sector is not, and vice versa," he said.

"A well-funded public research division would see all of us involved in agriculture better off."

He said there was one notable exception to the steady decline in government spending on agricultural research – China.

"China has been doing a lot of work in a lot of areas, including biotechnology, and I believe further research and agronomic advances will play a key role in their food security strategy, so vital for the most populous country on earth."