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Access to gene editing ‘a priority’ for Scottish agriculture, says supply industry

BREEDING: Gene editing is a way of speeding up plant breeding.
BREEDING: Gene editing is a way of speeding up plant breeding.

Leaders of Scotland’s agricultural supply industry have called on rural stakeholders to unite to put pressure on the Scottish Government to change its stance on gene editing.

Getting access to the technology is among the key priorities the AIC, the supply industry’s trade association, has outlined in its manifesto ahead of the Scottish parliamentary elections in May.

The renewed pressure on the Scottish Government to reconsider the use of gene editing in agriculture comes as the UK Government’s consultation on the topic closes and just  ahead of an imminent report by the European Commission.

George Eustice announced a  consultation on gene editing in January.

Scotland’s AIC policy manager, Ian Muirhead said access to the technology – which he referred to as “precision plant breeding” – was essential if the farming industry was to be equipped to hit the government’s  net zero emissions targets.

Speaking at the launch of the manifesto, Mr Muirhead said his organisation was aiming to make progress with government “behind the scenes”.

“We’ve had correspondence with the Scottish Government to get their view – and it’s maybe more nuanced than the headlines would suggest,” he said.

“We recognise the political sensitivities, but we’re trying to create a space to have a discussion about the opportunities that exist from adoption of the technology and the benefits that would accrue from that.

“The reality is that Scottish livestock will already have GM components in their diets. Likewise , if gene-edited crops were grown in the rest of the UK and not in Scotland, the nature of  trade would mean they’d end up having some components  of their feed from (English) sources.”

Other manifesto policy priorities for AIC include government support for industry-led advice services, access to green technologies, support for sustainability measures, access to crop protection products and support for productivity.

It also calls for access to sustainable protein and support for research and development.