‘£14bn apocalypse’ of ban on GM food

SCOTLAND’S lucrative food and drink industry could be devastated by the ‘apocalyptic’ consequences of banning genetically modified crops.

Ministers have said that they are not prepared to ‘gamble with the future’ of Scotland’s food and drink sector.

But the Government’s own former chief science adviser has warned the decision could threaten the £14billion industry.

Professor Muffy Calder, who stepped down from the role in December and has yet to be replaced, said she is ‘disappointed and angry’ at the ban.

She said it did not appear to be based on scientific evidence and warned it could leave key cash crops such as potatoes, soft fruits and barley – chief ingredient of whisky – susceptible to disease.

Professor Calder said: ‘ Scottish crops could be exposed to diseases which could come and wipe us out.

‘I meant it in an apocalyptic sense. I’m not expert in the area, but everyone knows that there are diseases, there are blights, that can affect crops. One of the motivations for GM crops is to develop more disease-resistant crops, and another is that you have to use less pesticide.

‘If we’re not looking for other ways to make our crops resistant, it does leave us open, and maybe someone else will be able to develop something that is resistant.’

Until earlier this year, EU countries were subject to rules that restricted the growing of GM crops. But after the regulations were eased in January, Scotland has chosen to opt out.

The UK Government was one of those which was pushing for more freedom to experiment with GM crops and eventually approve their cultivation. Professor Calder added: ‘ The ban seemed to be based on a perception of demand and fear of consumer backlash, not on any scientific evidence about GM crops themselves.

‘It’s fear of the unknown, based on some unscrupulous articles in the very early days about potential health risks which have really not been well founded and there has been no evidence ever since.’

Asked if the decision could threaten the whisky i ndustry, Professor Calder said: ‘That is an implicit conclusion one could draw from it.’

Rural Affairs Minister Richard Lochhead said allowing GM crops would damage the country’s ‘clean and green brand’.

But the move prompted an angry backlash from NFU Scotland, the farming union.

A former top scientific adviser has also criticised the ban as a ‘missed opportunity’.

Anne Glover, who held the post from 2006 to 2011, said: ‘It is not clear what evidence has been used to underpin the decision.

‘ By banning GM crops, the Scottish Government has removed the possibility of growing blightresistant GM potato, which would r e mo v e the need to spray Scotland’s potato crop multiple times during the growing season with chemical fungicide.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘There are currently no GM crops grown in Scotland and there is no evidence of significant demand for GM products from consumers. Food and drink producers in other countries have reported moving away from GM because of a consumer backlash.

‘Scotland has a global reputation for naturally high quality food and drink which often attracts a premium price. Allowing GM crops could damage our brand and our £14billion food and drink sector.’

‘Diseases could wipe us out’