LONDON, September 8, 2008 (AFP) - The anti-GM lobby in rich Western countries is holding back the development of modern farming technology which could help feed Africa, Britain's former top scientist said Monday.

Genetically-modified crops face stiff opposition from green lobbyists and media in developed countries, and campaigners reflect those attitudes in promoting traditional farming techniques in Africa, said Professor David King.

'The Western world move toward organic farming -- a lifestyle choice for a community with surplus food -- and against agricultural technology in general and GM in particular, has been adopted across the whole of Africa, with the exception of South Africa, with devastating consequences,' he said.

The issue of biotechnology -- derided as producing 'Frankenstein foods' by critics -- has soared up the political agenda because of the global spike in food prices, sparking alarm over growing hunger and civil unrest.

The worldwide credit crunch and economic slowdown have also fueled debate about the value of organic food, amid signs that people are turning back towards more mainstream -- and cheaper -- food as household budgets tighten.

Speaking ahead of an address to a science festival in Liverpool, western England, Monday evening King -- the British government's chief scientist until he stepped down in December -- told reporters that the anti-GM lobby played a key role.

'If you look at the position taken by non-governmental organisations and international organisations it has been to support traditional agricultural technologies,' he said.

'But it has been proven these technologies will not deliver the food for the burgeoning population of Africa,' he warned.

'Suffering within that continent is largely driven by attitudes in the West which are anti-science and anti-technology.

'They are against the use of GM technology, which could develop plants for crops which which can deal with increased salinity in the water, flooding for rice crops and drought resistance.'