PRINCE Charles last night called for a new approach to farming to avoid epidemics such as mad cow disease.
In his first major speech since his divorce, the Prince of Wales said: "Perhaps BSE will come to be seen as one example, albeit a very expensive and damaging one, of how nature hits back when we violate her laws.
"In order to avoid future breakdowns of a similar nature, I believe we shall need an entirely new set of guiding principles."
Prince Charles called for a revival of rural communities and economies which stress "virtues of health and naturalness throughout the food chain".
If the real cost of so called "cheap" food production was taken into account, in terms of environmental destruction, damage to health and compensation payments, the new approach was affordable as well as sustainable he said.
Addressing the 50th anniversary meeting in London of the governing body of the organic movement, the Soil Association, the prince suggested a standing body, like a royal commission, to report on the possible dangers posed by genetically engineered foods.