(REUTERS; TOKYO)
16th October 2006

Scientists working a central Osaka research institute have cloned the base DNA that forms rice.

Dr. Il-La Jil of the Osaka Institute of Technology, Osaka University made the breakthrough late on Sunday night, local time.

Dr. Jil told Japanese reporters, "famine is world issue that is certainly bad. With rice in abundance, people will not only be able to eat, but they the west will be able to feed them for cheaper than ever."

Steven Laskgo of the American Food Institute however, lacked the optimism of his Japanese counterpart, "whilst rice in abundance is great for Africans, I prefer chips."