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Scotland to outlaw cultivation of genetically modified crops
Scotland is to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) produce, the country’s rural ministry has announced.
Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead said he was not prepared to “gamble” with the future of Scotland’s £14bn food and drink sector.
The Scottish government intends to take advantage of new EU rules allowing member states to decide whether or not they want to grow GM crops.
But farmers say the ban will hurt the competitiveness of their produce.
A GM crop variety is created by altering the plant’s DNA in a lab, typically to give it a new trait which does not occur naturally in the species, such as resistance to certain pests or pesticides.
The EU imports large quantities of GM produce from overseas, mostly soy bean, cotton and maize from the US.
Philosophers stone – selected views from the boat http://philosophers-stone.co.uk
Source: http://www.philosophers-stone.co.uk/?p=1896
