Genetically modified crops could be grown in England following a split from the European Union. But will it be good for Britain to forge ahead with a science that many consider to be dangerous for the environment, and potentially our health?
George Eustice, the agriculture minister, revealed in a written parliament answer that as part of plans for Brexit, the government was looking at the regulation of genetically modified crops. It has come as no surprise to the farming world, which has been campaigning for years for a more relaxed approach to GM. Many in Westminster already support the planting of GM crops on a commercial scale – although the situation is different in devolved administrations. However, we are unlikely to be seeing suspiciously large potatoes or glowing carrots in our fields anytime soon. The GM crops grown here will still have to be approved for commercial use – if not by the EU, by our own government.
The kind of crops grown in England, such as wheat and potatoes, could potentially benefit from genetic modification to resist disease, but at the moment, there are none in the pipeline that suit the British climate.
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