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Scotland to ban growing genetically modified crops

Monday, August 10th 2015 - 06:05 UTC
Full article 41 comments
Richard Lochhead said the Scottish government was not prepared to “gamble” with the future of the country's £14bn food and drink sector. Richard Lochhead said the Scottish government was not prepared to “gamble” with the future of the country's £14bn food and drink sector.
Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone agreed cultivation of GM crops would harm the country's environment and reputation for high quality food and drink. Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone agreed cultivation of GM crops would harm the country's environment and reputation for high quality food and drink.
“Other countries are embracing biotechnology where appropriate and we should be open to doing the same here” said Scott Walker from the farming union NFU “Other countries are embracing biotechnology where appropriate and we should be open to doing the same here” said Scott Walker from the farming union NFU

Scotland is to ban the growing of genetically modified crops, the country's rural affairs secretary has announced. Richard Lochhead said the Scottish government was not prepared to “gamble” with the future of the country's £14bn food and drink sector.

 He is to request that Scotland be excluded from any European consents for the cultivation of GM crops. But farming leaders said they were disappointed by the move.

Under EU rules, GM crops must be formally authorized before they can be cultivated. An amendment came into force earlier this year which allows member states and devolved administrations to restrict or ban the cultivation of genetically modified organisms within their territory.

Mr. Lochhead said Scotland's request for opt-outs from GM crop consent would cover an EU approved variety of genetically modified maize and six other GM crops that are awaiting authorization.

He said that Scotland was known around the world for its “beautiful natural environment” and banning the growing of genetically modified crops would protect and further enhance its “clean, green status”.

Lochhead added: “There is no evidence of significant demand for GM products by Scottish consumers and I am concerned that allowing GM crops to be grown in Scotland would damage our clean and green brand, thereby gambling with the future of our £14bn food and drink sector.

”Scottish food and drink is valued at home and abroad for its natural, high quality which often attracts a premium price, and I have heard directly from food and drink producers in other countries that are ditching GM because of a consumer backlash.“

The announcement was welcomed by Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who agreed that the cultivation of GM crops would harm the country's environment and reputation for high quality food and drink.

But she called on ministers to go further by challenging big retailers to improve their labeling to show whether meat, eggs and dairy products come from animals fed on GM feed. The move has also been broadly welcomed by environment groups.

But Scott Walker, chief executive of farming union NFU Scotland, said he was disappointed that the Scottish government had decided that no GM crops should ever be grown in Scotland.

”Other countries are embracing biotechnology where appropriate and we should be open to doing the same here in Scotland,“ he said.

”These crops could have a role in shaping sustainable agriculture at some point and at the same time protecting the environment which we all cherish in Scotland.“

Huw Jones, professor of molecular genetics at agricultural science group Rothamsted Research, said the announcement was a ”sad day for science and a sad day for Scotland“. He added that GM crops approved by the EU were ”safe for humans, animals and the environment”.

Top Comments

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  • CaptainSilver

    Scotch weather is so bad you cant grow much there anyway. It has been particularly awful this year and you you cant sit outside because of biting midges. Most seafood gets exported to the Club Med countrys because the Med is fished out and the Scotch dont generally like healthy seafood. GM crops enable the worlds poorest to grow pest resistant food with better yields. This action by the Scotch just displays how stupid their government is.

    Aug 10th, 2015 - 07:07 am 0
  • Englander

    Good for the Scots, who have some very fertile and productive land, but how are they going to stop it blowing over the border.

    Aug 10th, 2015 - 09:23 am 0
  • Idlehands

    When you look at your average Scot you'd assume they'd been eating GM food for years.

    Aug 10th, 2015 - 09:23 am 0
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