The Scottish Secretary of Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead (who also carries the portfolio for the environment and food) has declaimed his intention to take advantage of an EU ruling permitting nations to opt out of (ban) growing even EU-authorized GM crops. In this instance, the rationale given is that Scotland is known around the world for our beautiful natural environment and banning growing genetically modified crops will protect and further enhance our clean, green status....
What the presence of biotech crops has to do with clean, green products escapes us here at ACSH. There is nothing toxic nor unhealthy in the slightest (an argument can be made for the opposite, in fact) and the exclusion of GMOs from the green designation is purely arbitrary and counterproductive.
Mr. Lochhead went on: There is no evidence of significant demand for GM products by Scottish consumers ¦.
Now that s more like it. Since Scotland is such a small land, and since farmers there get massive subsidies from their government, why should they bother getting up to speed with the latest technologies to enhance yield and reduce chemical inputs? Fine. But to have the government then get on its high horse and start bloviating about clean and green ideation when they really mean, Ah, I don t really want to bother with it, amounts to blatant hypocrisy.