Cunningham is 'not for turning' over GM

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 18:08

SCOTTISH environment minister, Roseanna Cunningham gave a "the lady is not for turning" impression at yesterday's AgriScot when she rejected any government change of position on genetic modification.

When questioned about the prospect of a "spray free" potato being produced within the next ten or 15 years to by scientists using biotechnology, Cunningham stated "we are not changing our policy on GM".

She said that science should underpin policy, not dictate it and expressed the view that other European countries such as France, Austria and Ireland were also in the "no GM" boat. Scotland would have to compete in the same market as these countries and she believed it should not put itself at a disadvantage by adopting GM technology.

But NFU Scotland chief executive James Withers saw this as government ducking out on an opportunity. "Government has a responsibility to lead and educate," and he compared Holyrood's position on GM as being similar to the recent dismissal by the UK government of the main scientist on drug policy.

"There are real opportunities and massive gains to be had in meeting our climate challenge targets if we adopt biotechnology." he said. Research should be carried out by the public sector and not by multinational companies whose priorities may not coincide with the wider public interest, he added.

Withers' comments were backed up by his president, Jim McLaren, who stated "doors should not be closed as any improvement in crop protection or production would be a step forward".

The divide came during a debate on the challenges facing Scottish agriculture where the government's ambitious climate change targets featured.

The union claimed that agriculture's carbon footprint had reduced by 17 per cent since the government's base year of 1990. Part of this was due to reduced fertiliser inputs, claimed McLaren, with the industry now back at 1976 tonnages.

While going along with the government's targets, he did not want to see Scotland going it alone. Neither did he want to see livestock production being singled out as a target by those discussing pushing the climate change agenda. That would be very much to Scotland's disadvantage with such a large percentage of land in grassland with no other growing option.

The debate took place at AgriScot which, once again, drew the crowds to an extent that chairman of the organising committee, Robin Young, described it as an outstanding success. But one, he admitted might give them a future problem.

"We have all the covered space at Ingliston filled and there is a waiting list for trade space." With there being no entry fee, he said there was no way of knowing the exact attendance but felt it was "at least as good as last year".

The organisers have been casting their net wide and there were at least a dozen buses that had come up from England. In addition, there were a number of international visitors coming into nearby Edinburgh airport.