Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Homepage
About Us | News | Research | Consultancy | Products | Policy Support | Education | Jobs | People | Contact |
Scottish Environment LINK
Scottish Environment LINK - The voice of Scotland's environment movement

THE STATE OF SCOTLAND'S FARMED ENVIRONMENT 2005

14. GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) CROPS

GM NATION – THE PUBLIC DEBATE

The GM Public Debate arose from a recommendation in the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission's report on "Crops on Trial". In May 2002 the Secretary of State announced that the UK Government and the devolved administrations would sponsor a national GM dialogue on GM issues. The aim was to create a dialogue between all strands of opinion on GM, to deepen public understanding of the issues surrounding GM technology, and to improve the evidence base to enable Government to make informed decisions. It comprised three main components:

  • a public debate, managed by an independent steering board;
  • a review of the scientific issues relating to GM crops and food, conducted by a panel of independent scientists chaired by the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor working with DEFRA's Chief Scientist; and
  • a study into the costs and benefits of GM crops, by the Government's Strategy Unit.

The findings of the public debate suggest that people are generally uneasy about GM crops and food. It was, however, pointed out that the general public may have a lower degree of outright opposition to GM than the participants in the debate.

The science review found that worldwide there have been no verifiable ill effects reported from the consumption of products from GM crops over seven years. It concluded that the main environmental risk with current GM crops is their potential impact on farmland biodiversity.

The Strategy Unit's study concluded that any economic benefit from the crops presently available is likely to be limited in the short term but that future developments in GM crops could potentially offer more significant benefits. Much would depend on consumer attitudes towards GM food and crops. (Scottish Executive, 2004a)

A UK-wide public debate on GM took place in summer 2003. The debate found that the general public was uneasy about the introduction of GM crops and food. A science review, carried out at the same time, concluded that the main risk from GM crops is the potential effect on biodiversity.

EXECUTIVE POLICY AND OUTLOOK >>