Murdo Fraser MSP has welcomed calls from the president of the Royal Society for reassessment of the ban on GM crops in Scotland and elsewhere in the EU.
“After 20 years of considerable experience growing GM crops… we think it is time to revisit the issue.” said Prof Venki Ramakrishnan, in an interview with the BBC’s Today programme.
Prof Ramakrishnan, who is the president of the Royal Society, went on to say: “You cannot say GM food is safe or unsafe… it has to be done on a case-by-case basis like any other crop.” He said there was nothing intrinsically unsafe about GM and we shouldn’t have a blanket ban on a whole scientific method.
Last year the House of Commons Science and Technology committee produced a report condemning the EU’s ban on GM crops, claiming that it prevented innovation, hampered farmers trying to increase yields and reduce pesticide use, and was out of step with the current scientific evidence.
Advocates of GM crops point out that as well as increasing disease resistance and increasing yield, GM technology has the potential to improve the quality of foods by introducing better quality proteins, and oils such as Omega 3, as well as health benefits such as preventing blindness in developing countries through enriched rice.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“The Scottish Government has ignored the scientific evidence long enough – I think it is time we caught up with our friends in the US and embraced the possibilities GM technology can bring for our farming industry and scientific community.
“Given that 10% of arable land worldwide is being used to grow GM crops and we haven’t seen any adverse effects, and reputable organisations like the Royal Society and House of Commons Science and Technology Committee support it, I think it’s high time we re-evaluated GM technology’s place in Scotland.
“Our refusal to look at the scientific evidence isn’t just harming Scotland – developing countries have always looked to us as an example for farming practices, and as a trade partner. Our continued stubbornness over GM crops prevents the people who could benefit most from the technology from using it.”