The Scotsman

Minister's Plea Over GM Crops

The science behind genetically modified crops should not be rejected out of hand, John Home Robertson, the deputy minister for rural affairs, said yesterday.

Speaking at the Scottish Crop Research Institute in Dundee, where he opened a £1.6 million glasshouse research facility, Mr Home Robertson said science and not emotion should be the guiding principle.

He said: "It is as well to remember that work with GMs at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh has helped to devise drugs to treat cystic fibrosis. It may be that crop science can be equally beneficial, but it isright that we ask searching questions.

"We would be phenomenally silly to turn our backs on this, if we can be satisfied that it can produce good developments for mankind and is safe for the environment. There is a long, long history of good-quality science in Scotland and, provided we adopt a rigorous precautionary principle, the Scottish executive intends to support that quality science and take it forward."

Asked if he favoured GMs, Professor John Hillman, the director of SCRI, said: "As a researcher, I am in favour, but there are questions that everyone wants to ask about the risks and the benefits in the marketplace.

"We must be able to demonstrate that we can override the concerns, but the reality is that hundreds of millions of people are eating the products of GM crops. A greater understanding is required by the public of just what genes are.

"Gene flow occurs all the time, and there are plant genes in the human genome," he said. "What we need is for the public to have a greater belief and trust in the integrity of science and scientists."

Prof Hillman said of the new glasshouse: "The opening of this outstanding new facility marks a new growth phase for SCRI and the biggest capital investment in recent years.

"The complex extends our existing capabilities to a point where we can now conduct research into almost any plant on earth in its natural environment."

The glasshouse can recreate sub-arctic and tropical conditions, as well as virtual sunsets and sunrises. It offers one of the widest ranges of computer-controlled sites for plant research under one roof in the UK.

The complex also houses a series of growth rooms and laboratories for experiments, where the containment of viruses, bacteria and pollen are key requirements. A team of scientists will conduct studies into crops of significance to Scotland, including barley, potatoes and soft fruit, as well as tropical species such as tobacco and maize.

SCRI has an annual budget of £13 million, of which £7 million comes from the Scottish Executive. The balance is derived from a range of 120 commercial contracts. Many research establishments have seen their budget cut in real terms over the past five years, but Mr Home Robertson maintained that there is no lack of funding.