GM crops inevitable

SCOTLAND must face up to the growing importance of genetically modified crops, the president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh warned on the eve of a major report on the issue being published.

Sir William Stewart said: "GM crops are hugely important for Scotland and will become more so. We have got to get it right, but there is no use in being ostrich-like, because they are not going to go away."

The biologist’s comments came as the Royal Society, the RSE’s London-based sister body, was due to publish a report today on GM safety.

The review of the latest scientific findings follows a 1998 report which concluded that GM plants could lead to quality and nutritional improvements, but might also pose risks.