The government is poised to allow commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops in the UK, as Britain’s withdrawal from the EU nears.

Responding to a Parliamentary question on Wednesday, farming minister George Eustice said, “As part of preparations for the EU exit, the Government is considering possible future arrangements for the regulation of genetically modified organisms.”

Although GM crop trials continue to be conducted in the UK, widespread resistance to GM crops amongst the public and national governments in the EU means that currently only one type of GM crop is licensed for production in the bloc (a maize variety which produces a protein that harms insect pests), and this is not grown in Britain. Even so, the British public is mostly sceptical of GM crops, and high-profile trials have faced protests and been damaged by environmental campaigners in recent years.  

Wales and Scotland have banned cultivation of GM crops on their territory, with Scotland’s then-rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead stating last year that cultivation of GM crops would damage the “clean and green” brand of Scotland’s food industry. Lochhead said the Scottish government’s position on GM crops is in line with the precautionary principle, and that the potential risks to other crops and wildlife from GM crops outweighs the expected benefits from growing them.

Even so, in his written answer on Wednesday, Eustice said the UK government believes that “Policy and regulation in this area should be science-based and proportionate.”

Responding to the farming minister’s announcement on Thursday, Green Party MEP Molly Scott Cato said, "George Eustice's confirmation that we are likely to see more GM crops grown in the UK after we leave the EU comes as little surprise given the role the UK has played in undermining the EU-wide moratorium. The Green Party maintains its opposition to these crops which represent a threat to biodiversity and soil fertility.

"They also pose a serious threat to our many small scale farmers by handing over control of our food supply to a few giant agri-corporations, and they threaten organic farmers through contamination.”

Though legislation passed in Europe last year effectively allows national governments to decide for themselves whether or not to allow GM crop cultivation on their territories, Friends of the Earth has criticised Eustice’s signalling of approval for growing the crops, labelling it as a potential “own goal” given that the European market will still be vital for British farmers after Brexit, and the continued hostility to GM on the mainland.

Molly Scott Cato agreed with Friends of the Earth’s position, adding, “Our many farmers who export to Europe should be aware that the EU market remains resistant to GM food and, given the many threats to agricultural exports in the post-Brexit scenario, they should be very cautious about making any rapid moves towards GM cultivation. GM crops remain deeply unpopular with consumers in the UK as well as across the continent."