Exclusive:Pledge to bring gene editing to Scotland's farming network

Gene editing (GE), a technique that resembles natural mutation, is being used in some countries to make crops such as wheat, rapeseed and beetroot more nutritious and resistant to disease.

The Scottish Tories, ahead of the party conference this weekend, told The Scotsman that following calls from the industry, it would introduce precision breeding into Scotland if in power.

Read more: 'Tens of thousands' of sheep in Scotland at risk of not being sheared this summer due to visa changes

Food campaigners, however, have long argued that using GE techniques in Scotland’s farming sector would undermine the country’s reputation for high-quality natural food.

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Historically, the Scottish Government has taken a strong stand against adopting GE, despite the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 being passed south of the border. The Act regulates a system that allows certain gene-edited plants (and eventually animals) to be developed and sold without the older, stricter GMO rules. Some EU nations are also reconsidering their bans on gene editing.

Last year, agriculture minister Jim Fairlie hinted that the policy may be overturned after pressure from the farming industry and food scientists.

Researchers, including those at the James Hutton Institute, actively promote GE as a crucial tool for future-proofing Scottish farming against climate change and for improving sustainability.

However, Scottish Tory MSP for Highlands and Islands Tim Eagle, who announced the GE pledge, said the SNP government has failed to listen to farming and science.

“It is just common sense that gene editing should finally be given the go-ahead in Scotland, but the SNP are still dragging their heels,” Mr Eagle said.

“They hinted at a U-turn last year, but nothing has happened since and Scotland’s farmers are still missing out on this technology compared to their counterparts elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

“SNP ministers have spent the last five years during this Parliament rejecting these calls because they have typically put political grievance and posturing ahead of just doing the right thing.”

Mr Eagle said experts at the Roslin institute and farming industry leaders have been “crying out for gene editing” for years, but ministers “have failed to listen.”

“Where the SNP have failed, we stand ready to back our farmers and are fully committed to introducing this technology north of the border,” he said.

Food campaigner Ruth Watson and founder of Keep Scotland The Brand said allowing GE crops in Scotland would present a “huge issue” for the country’s food and drink reputation.

“Genetic editing presents a huge issue with Scotland’s brand and reputation,” she said.

“We are a small nation that punches above our weight in terms of the exports we send out into the world.

“Not having gene editing is our unique selling point.

“There will be countries all over the world doing the same thing but to be a place where nations can come to get seed and food and drink that doesn’t have any of those concerns hanging over it is so important, especially if you’re looking at the organic market which is growing.”

Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “We are aware of the current debate around new genomic techniques and how these relate to existing genetic modification legislation.

“As our biggest trading partner for food and drink, we are looking carefully at the implications of the European Union’s legislative proposals on this issue. We continue to have a policy of broad EU alignment.

“The previous UK Government regrettably pushed ahead with regulatory divergence in this area without taking account of the impacts of that on trade with the EU or seeking consensus with devolved governments.”