Scotlandhas announcedthat it will ban the ontogeny of GM crops . Scotland ’s Rural Affairs Secretary , Richard Lochhead , has said that the government wants to protect the country ’s “ clean and green ” brand , and that they will prefer out of any E.U. consent that will admit the finish of various approved GM flora . The move has been criticise by those in the farming business , as well as those researching bioengineering , claiming that this is a “ sad day for scientific discipline . ”
The postulation to prefer out of the GM crop consent would cover seven plant that the E.U. is likely to give the go - ahead to allow them to be grown commercially across the continent . This comes despite the fact that all GM crop commercially availablehave been proven to be safefor human consumption and to have no harmful event on health , and in spite of the cardinal part Scottish scientists have played in the maturation of GM crops . However , the government has not said whether this new proscription will also affect those plants grown for scientific or experimental research .
“ There is no evidence of significant requirement for GM products by Scottish consumers and I am concerned that allowing GM crop to be grown in Scotland would damage our clean and green sword , thereby take a chance with the future of our £ 14 billion food for thought and beverage sector , ” said Lochhead in anofficial statement .
“ Scottish food for thought and drink is valued at home and abroad for its born , gamy timber which often attracts a agiotage damage , and I have heard directly from intellectual nourishment and drink producers in other land that are ditch GM because of a consumer repercussion . ”
The promulgation has been substantiate by Scottish Green politico Alison Johnstone , who has saidthat the need to protect Scotland ’s reputation for high - quality produce is fundamental . But she has also called for further measure that would mean supermarkets would have to label meat , dairy and egg ware that have come from animals feed on GM provender .
TheNational Farmers Union of Scotland(NFUS ) , however , is dismayed by the project ban . “ My personal view is this is plainly go to make us less competitive , ” Andrew McCornick , vice - chairperson of the NFUS , toldthe Scotsman . “ There is go to be one side of the Border in England where they may adopt bioengineering , but just across the river Tweed sodbuster are not depart to be allowed to . How are these farmers fail to be capable of contend in the same market ? ”
There has also been criticism launched from the scientific community , who are concerned that the move will hamper the development of new GM crops and biotechnology within the nation . Huw Jones , a prof of molecular genetic science at Rothamsted Researchhas saidthat “ this is a pitiful solar day for skill , and a sad day for Scotland . GM crops okay by the E.U. are safe for human being , animate being and the environment and it ’s a shame the Scottish Parliament think refinement would harm their food and drink sphere . ”
picture credit : BASF - We create chemical science / Flickr ( CC BY - NC - ND 2.0 ) .
