Westminster is moving forward with its Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, whilst the Scottish Government is refusing to allow rules to be changed in Scotland.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum – which would see increased flexibility in modern plant breeding technologies across the UK – looks like being turned down by the Holyrood Government.

This bill would remove precision-bred organisms (PBOs) from the authorisation requirements under GMO legislation and instead bring in two mandatory notification systems for PBOs, one for non-marketing purposes (research and development) and one for marketing purposes.

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If legislative consent is turned down, this will prevent Scottish agriculture having the same access to new plant varieties as English farmers.

The Scottish Government remains resolutely against gene editing or precision bred organisms, which has the potential to threaten the future of sectors like seed potatoes.

Potato scientist at the James Hutton Institute, Lesley Torrance, said: “Gene editing, or precision bred organism technology is going to be increasingly used to breed new varieties in the coming years. This will fast track production of better plants in the future which are likely to be demanded in many of our export markets.

"For instance, at JHI we are developing a potato which cooks quicker using PBO technology. Using this technology cuts many years off the time it takes to get plants ready for commercial market.

"If we were produce these plants by conventional breeding, it would take many more years and consequently much longer for farmers to be able to access and grow the potato.”

Demand from agriculture is pushing development of new varieties to use PBO technology, so plants can better perform better by being disease and drought resistant, or requiring lower inputs – all of which helps reduce emissions.

NFU Scotland's president, Martin Kennedy, said: “We are disappointed that the Scottish Government has chosen not to partake in the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill in favour of a European ruling on gene editing.

"That debate is already underway at EU level. We will use our Brussels office to pursue change that recognises the potential for gene editing to address positively some of the big challenges Scottish and European agriculture face in the short and long term.

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“We noted that the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee had opened a consultation on the issue and we will consider submitting a response once we have looked through the detail of its inquiry.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We want to ensure that Scotland operates to the highest environmental standards, and that we protect the strengths of Scottish agriculture and food production.

"The regulation of genetically modified organisms is a devolved area of responsibility, and the views of stakeholders in Scotland must be central to how those regulations apply to new genetic technologies such as gene editing.

"That includes stakeholders from the scientific community, stakeholders from across the spectrum of industry interests, and crucially, consumers and the public as a whole.”