EUROPEAN nations are "giving away the crown jewels" by not capitalising on their expertise in genetically modified food, the chief scientific adviser to the European Commission has said.

Europe appears to be in a "race for second place" by conducting highly regarded research but then waiting for other countries to carry out the practical work, said Anne Glover, a former Scottish Government adviser.

Her comments come just weeks after the issue was raised at Holyrood. Tory MSP Murdo Fraser urged the Scottish Government, which opposes GM crops, to be bolder.

Ms Glover said: "People in North America and Asia do it first. It's like we're in the race to be second sometimes and that we're almost giving away the crown jewels. It's almost a form of madness."

She said she supports GM food based on the evidence available and hopes governments across the EU will revisit their policies.

However, her support for GM drew attacks on her motivation, with some people suggesting she is linked to big business.

She insisted: "I'm influenced by evidence. I'm absolutely not trying to tell citizens of Europe to grow GM food; I just want them to look at the evidence. If they did, they might come to the conclusions I have that there is no more harm eating GM food than conventional."