The Scottish Government’s former chief scientific adviser has said she is hopeful the SNP “might change” their mind on the banning of genetically-modified (GM) crops.
Aberdeen University’s Anne Glover said the proscription of GM would mean Scotland is “less likely to be able to go down the path of sustainable climate-safe agriculture”.
But Ms Glover, who was also the former scientific adviser to the European President, said she was “hopeful” that the Scottish Government might reconsider the ban.
Rural Affairs secretary Richard Lochhead announced the ban in August in what he claimed was a bid to maintain Scotland’s “clean, green” status.
The move has proved controversial, with Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie recently claiming Mr Lochhead was akin to people “who questioned Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin”.
Ms Glover said: “I hope that on reflection, the Scottish Government will accept that the global scientific consensus is that GM technology is safe and that it may be of future value to Scotland in delivering clean green agriculture by choosing how to apply GM technology in agriculture.
“By restricting ourselves to traditional agricultural practices, we are less likely to be able to go down the path of sustainable climate-safe agriculture.
“I hope we don’t consign ourselves to ‘old and dirty’ in the mistaken view that it is ‘clean and green’.
“My experience of the SNP Government is that they know the value of science and evidence in policymaking so I hope their position might change in the future.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Like two thirds of EU member states, Scotland has decided to opt out of EU consents to cultivate GM crops. This decision is not a new policy but part of the Scottish Government’s long-held position to maintain a precautionary approach to GM.
“Whilst Scottish Ministers very much value the views of our scientific community, Government has a responsibility to consider other social, environmental and economic factors too.
“For example, three quarters of Scottish seed potato exports – worth some £60 million per year – require specific confirmation that the products are GM-free.
“Allowing GM crops to be grown in Scotland could therefore have a hugely damaging economic impact on this important sector, and illustrates why Scotland was right to safeguard the reputation of our £14 billion food and drink industry by using Europe’s opt out from growing GM crops that are approved or which are pending approval.”