Scots risk missing out on science that could cut food bills... because of SNP ban
SCOTLAND faces missing out on cutting-edge technology which could help cut food bills because the SNP Government wants to stick to Brussels rules.
The UK Government is due to publish legislation giving the green light to use ‘gene editing’, which allows farmers to grow crops which are more resistant to disease and pests.
But it will only apply in England, as powers are devolved to Holyrood.
The SNP Government claims the process, also known as precision breeding, is the same as genetically modified crops, which are banned in Scotland, and has indicated it will only change its approach if the European Union acts first.
It means that use of the technology in crops, which could be developed by world-leading scientists at the James Hutton Institute near Dundee, will not be allowed in Scotland.
Now the UK Government is to make a formal approach to SNP ministers asking them to allow its legislation to apply across the whole of Great Britain.
Writing in today’s Mail, Colin Campbell, chief executive of the James Hutton Institute, said gene editing can help counter the impact of climate change, protect the environment and prevent food shortages. This could help keep down food costs for customers.
He said: ‘Time is not on our side and
‘Do not want Scotland to be left behind’
we need our agricultural sector to be able to grow food locally, consistently, against worsening weather, and that has benefits to growers, all parts of the supply chain, consumers and society.
‘For a country such as Scotland – which has a reputation for high-quality food and drink brands built on its natural, high-quality environment – we need to consider how conventional systems using potentially more chemical inputs will fare against similar systems from countries using precision breeding and whether this impacts upon the balance of consumer perceptions when it comes to relative environmental benefits.’
The new UK Government Bill, which was confirmed in the Queen’s Speech, is expected to be published this week.
It will ‘remove unnecessary barriers inherited from the EU’ to allow the use of precision breeding, which the UK Government says can ‘drive economic growth and position the UK as the leading country in which to invest in agrifood research and innovation’. It will treat gene editing differently to GM crops, as it does not involve DNA from other species being inserted into crops.
Once the Bill is published, UK ministers intend to make a formal approach to the Scottish Government to ask if it will agree for it to apply across Great Britain.
A UK Government source said: ‘We believe there is enormous potential in precision breeding technology. It could help us tackle climate change, strengthen our food security and cut the cost of the weekly shop.
‘We do not want Scotland to be left behind so we are considering an approach to the Scottish Government to see if they would agree to extending the Bill GB-wide, rather than England only.’
The SNP has previously resisted any attempt by the UK Government to invest or make policy in devolved areas.
When the UK Government announced its intention to invest directly in Scotland through its Levelling Up Fund, which replaced EU structural funds previously operated from Brussels, the SNP accused it of a ‘power grab’. In a written answer to a question from Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton, Environment Minister Mairi McAllan said the changes to the approach to gene editing in England are being announced ‘despite the majority of respondents to a public consultation on genetic technologies in England rejecting this proposal’.
She said: ‘While we are keeping abreast of both scientific and judicial reasoning on the decoupling of products of novel genomic techniques, such as gene editing, from GMOs [genetically modified organisms], the definition of a GMO has not changed in Scotland. Gene-edited organisms are legally considered GMOs.
‘Should the EU move to change its regulatory framework, as in other matters, we will consider the implications for Scotland as details become available.
‘The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining alignment with EU laws and standards, supported in part by powers in the Continuity Act that ensure Scottish ministers can make secondary legislation to achieve this.
‘This means that we will continue to align with the EU, where appropriate and in Scotland’s interest, including the protection and advancement of the high environmental standards that both Scotland and the EU enjoy.’