SNP urged to embrace gene editing amid reports of U-turn

Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary Tim Eagle has called on SNP ministers to show “common sense” and follow through on reports suggesting they will reconsider their opposition to gene editing in Scotland.

Scotland’s agriculture minister, Jim Fairlie, said the Scottish government’s position on gene editing has not changed.

But he added: “We want to ensure that Scotland operates to the highest environmental standards, and that we protect the strengths of Scottish agriculture and food production.

See also: Defra secretary gives the thumbs up to gene editing at Oxford

“Last month, the cabinet secretary for rural affairs, Mairi Gougeon, and I held an informal meeting with agricultural, research and food and drink stakeholders to hear their views on the use of gene edited crops and products in Scotland. 

“We will take into account stakeholder views, alongside developments in the EU, as we consider any next steps.”

Mr Eagle welcomed the news, but stressed that “there is no time to waste” as Scottish farmers continue to face disadvantages compared to their counterparts in England, where gene editing crops can now be developed commercially.

“Our farmers have been at a disadvantage for too long, and this has the potential to be a game-changer in securing our food supply and protecting our agriculture sector,” he said.

Gene editing modifies existing genes by adding, removing, or altering them, while genetic modification (GM) involves inserting genes from other organisms to introduce new traits.

Industry bodies such as the Agricultural Industries Confederation Scotland, NFU Scotland, and GB Potatoes have also been vocal in urging the Scottish government to embrace gene editing, which they argue would help address climate challenges, increase crop resilience, and reduce pesticide dependency.

They warn that failing to adopt gene-editing technology will leave Scotland’s farmers at a competitive disadvantage compared to those in England and other countries.

In contrast, Pat Thomas from Beyond GM urged the Scottish government to “consider the broader implications and… preserve the clean, green reputation of its food and drink sector”.

She said: “Scotland could show real leadership by producing a thorough impact assessment that casts a cold and canny eye on both the benefits and disadvantages of embracing gene editing and grounding its decisions in fact rather than the overblown promises that Westminster has relied on.”

Scottish government stance

A Scottish government spokesman said: “We want to ensure that Scotland operates to the highest environmental standards, and that we protect the strengths of Scottish agriculture and food production.

“We will decide on whether or not to allow gene-edited crops to be grown or food using gene-editing techniques to be produced here, based on what is in the best interests and needs of Scotland.”