Holyrood anger as new UK minister backs GM crops

Published on Friday 4 June 2010 23:32

THE Scottish and UK governments could be set for a clash over controversial genetically modified (GM) crops after a key Tory minister appeared to back growing them in Britain.

The newly installed UK Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, said she was in favour of GM foods "in the right circumstances" during a newspaper interview.

However, the Scottish Government rushed to make clear its "fundamental" opposition to the move, which could potentially mean GM crops being grown in Border areas such as Northumberland and Cumbria, affecting Scotland.

The threat of a row emerged after it was announced that the European Union was to consider giving greater freedom to its commissioners to approve new GM varieties for cultivation in return for letting member states decide whether or not to grow them.

But the comments from the Environment Secretary suggested that the new Tory-Lib Dem coalition is about to become the most pro-GM government yet.

Ms Spelman said that taxpayers' cash should not be used to promote crops, but that the new minister of state in her department, Lord Henley, had already approved a trial involving potatoes.

She said: "GM can bring benefits in food to the marketplace. The sale should not be promoted by the taxpayer.

"Lord Henley has approved a trial of a potato blight-resistant variety. That's the kind of modification that can reduce the amount of agro-chemicals which need to be applied."

The minister went on to say that developing countries could benefit from GM crops.

She said: "There are benefits to developing countries, like drought resistance or resistance to high salt content in water.

"The principle of GM technology is (OK] if used well. The technology can be beneficial."

However, the Scottish Government called for alternatives to GM crops.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "(We are] fundamentally opposed to the cultivation of GM crops in Scotland and we welcomed the European Commission's recent initiative to allow countries the right to decide whether or not to grow GM crops.

"We are keen to explore alternative options to GM and currently invest over 13 million a year in crop research."