SCOTTISH FARMING'S leaders have cautiously welcomed new EU legislation that could remove the 'political wall' preventing the progress of genetically modified crops in this country.

The new regulation, which was passed by 480 votes to 150 in the European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg this week, gives individual member states the right to ban GM cultivation on their own territory.

Opponents of the change have pointed out that it also gives member states the right to press on with GMO cultivation, if they so choose, ending the EU's longstanding across-the-board moratorium on the technology, and going against the stated wishes of the majority of European consumers.

For Scotland's farmers, however, the hope is that the legislative shake-up will allow some objective science to illuminate the issue, dispelling the fog of politics and opinion currently standing between them and some sorely-needed new crop varieties.

Commenting on the vote, NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller said: "The headlines around GMO have created a political wall which has blocked more modern approaches to plant breeding. We need to delve below the headlines and start to objectively assess new techniques that can deliver both crop and environmental benefits.

"Turning our back on precision plant breeding is not an option if future generations are to eat and live in a sustainable way," said Mr Miller. "Regulatory frameworks can ensure precision techniques are employed without creating a threat to wild plant stocks or organic systems."

The union's chief executive Scott Walker added: "Good scientific advice is essential in making these decisions. In that regard, it was a backward step when the EU chose to remove the post of chief scientific adviser in November 2014.

"With a growing world population there is a need to produce more food. Well-regulated biotechnology has the potential to increase crop yields, combat plant diseases and provide the resilience required to cope with climatic changes."

However, Alyn Smith MEP, Scotland's only representative on the European Parliament's agriculture committee, slammed the passage of the new legislation as a "Trojan horse riddled with loopholes" that potentially opens the door to much greater use of GM crops and circulation of GM products in Europe.

"The SNP have always taken a clear line that we do not support farmscale cultivation of GM crops in Scotland," said Mr Smith. "We are of course in favour of carefully regulated research and development, but the GM industry has had the rest of the world to experiment in and the super-crop remains out of reach, so it is vital we safeguard Scotland's reputation for natural quality.

"This view reflects majority feeling on the subject, with a recent YouGov poll showing that only 20% think that the technology should be pursued in the UK at all," he said.

"Scottish farming's appeal, particularly for exports, relies on a reputation for quality natural products and environmental sensitivity, and I don't want anything that may jeopardise that reputation, particularly as the long term environmental impacts of GMOs are still unclear."

For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday's issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk