THE former chief science adviser to the Scottish Government has warned that its decision to ban genetically modified crops could have "apocalyptic" consequences and threaten the country's food and drinks industry.
Professor Muffy Calder, who stepped down from the role in December and has yet to be replaced, said she is "disappointed and angry" at Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead's decision to opt out of European Union consents for some GM crops.
Mr Lochhead said on Sunday that GM crops could "damage our clean and green brand, thereby gambling with the future of our £14 billion food and drink sector", and may lead to a "consumer backlash".
But Prof Calder said this does not appear to be based on scientific evidence, and she warned the decision could be even more damaging by leaving key cash crops such as potatoes, soft fruits and whisky ingredient barley susceptible to disease.
Scottish crops could be exposed to diseases which "could come and wipe us out", she said.
Prof Calder said: "I meant it in an apocalyptic sense.
"I'm not expert in the area, but everyone knows that there are diseases, there are blights that can affect crops.
"One of the motivations for GM crops is to develop more disease-resistant crops, and another motivation is so that you have to use less pesticide.
"If we're not looking for other ways to make our crops resistant, it does leave us open, and maybe someone else will be able to develop something that is resistant."
She added: "The ban seemed to be based on a perception of demand and fear of consumer backlash, not on any scientific evidence about GM crops themselves.
"It's fear of the unknown, based on some unscrupulous articles in the very early days about potential health risks which have really not been well founded and there has been no evidence ever since."
When asked if the decision could threaten the whisky industry, Prof Calder said: "That is an implicit conclusion one could draw from it.
"I'm not saying that, but what I am saying is to have a blanket ruling saying we can never investigate these means we're cutting off a whole lot of avenues that other countries will explore and it doesn't seem to be for scientific reasons."
She has urged the Scottish Government to heed the advice of Professor Nigel Brown, a former member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council and chairman of the Genome Analysis Centre, who said there are "no examples of adverse consequences so far", and that GM crops are kinder to the environment as they require fewer pesticides.
Prof Calder has also called on the Scottish Government to publish the scientific basis for its decision, and any studies it has done to substantiate its fears of a public backlash.
"If this is based on a perception of consumer demand where is the evidence for that, where is the social science that has been done for that? I'm not aware of it.
"As a general point, if you're making policy then you should indicate the basis upon which you made the policy."
She said she is not aware of any research of this nature being done while she was chief scientific adviser.
"I was not asked about this and the Scottish Science Advisory Committee was not asked either," she said.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Prohibiting the commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops will not affect research as it is currently carried out in Scotland, where the contained use of genetically modified plants is permitted for scientific purposes, for example in laboratories or sealed glasshouse facilities.
“There are currently no GM crops grown in Scotland and there is no evidence of significant demand for GM products from Scottish consumers. Food and drink producers in other countries have also reported moving away from GM because of a consumer backlash.
“Scotland has a global reputation for naturally high quality food and drink which often attracts a premium price and therefore allowing GM crops to be grown in Scotland could damage our brand and our £14bn food and drink sector. That is why the Scottish Government strongly supports the continued application of the precautionary principle in relation to GM.
“The new EU rules allow for countries to opt out of GM consents for socio-economic reasons on a case-by-case basis, so we intend to request that Scotland is excluded from European consents for the cultivation of GM crops, specifically the variety of genetically modified maize already approved and six other GM crops that are awaiting authorisation. The Scottish Government’s policy is not based solely on the precautionary principle. We must also take into account the wider context including the reputation of our country – the preventative principle – and the will of our people – the democratic principle.”
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