Scotland will keep its ban on gene-edited crops, even as the European Union considers lifting restrictions, it has emerged.
It comes amid fears that the new technology would damage the country’s brand as the source of natural and high-quality food.
John Swinney, the first minister, told the Scottish Farmer newspaper during a visit to the Royal Highland Show: “The [Scottish National Party, or] SNP’s stance is not to pursue GE … Even if they wish to in Europe, it is not in our interest. Here in Scotland we produce a high quality of produce and I would not like to take away from that.”
The EU has been broadly sceptical about gene manipulation in plants. However, the European parliament voted this year to loosen regulation around GE crops.
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English authorities have also been looking at introducing GE technology and regard it as different to GM. The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFUS) agrees with this stance. It argues that by producing plants that need less fertiliser and fuel, GE could help address the climate emergency.
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In 2022, in response to a freedom of information request by the NFUS, the Scottish government said it was committed to staying in line with the EU. It said: “Scotland’s policy on GMOs (genetically modified organisms) has not changed, and gene editing falls under current GMO legislation.”
