Scotland's government announced Sunday that it plans to ban the growing of genetically modified crops in order to protect its "clean, green status."
The move comes after the European Union declared new rules earlier this year that allow each of its countries to decide whether they would grow genetically modified crops or not. The ruling was authorized by the European Food Safety Authority and was in partnership with the British government which, on the other hand, welcomes farming of GM crops, according to the Daily Mail.
Heads of the Scottish government, as well as other leaders from Wales and Northern Ireland, have not agreed to grow GM crops in their respective countries. Nine EU countries are not in favor of growing crops despite its growing popularity in the U.S. and Asia.
Richard Lochhead, representing the Scottish government, said that this decision will include the previously EU approved genetically modified maize and six other genetically modified crops that are waiting for approval. He added that they want to protect Scotland's "beautiful natural environment" and if GMOs are banned, it will maintain its "clean, green status," BBC News reported.
"There is no evidence of significant demand for GM products by Scottish consumers and I am concerned that allowing GM crops to be grown in Scotland would damage our clean and green brand, thereby gambling with the future of our £14bn food and drink sector," Lochhead said.
"Scottish food and drink is valued at home and abroad for its natural, high quality which often attracts a premium price, and I have heard directly from food and drink producers in other countries that are ditching GM because of a consumer backlash," he added in lieu of Scotland's £14 billion food and drink industry.
Farming Minister George Eustice said in a National Farmers Union conference in Birmingham that "We should have a science-based approach to these things."
"We should be growing these crops, and we shouldn't allow non-scientific arguments to muddy the debate," he added.
National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) Vice President Andrew McCornick also said that banning GMOs will affect farmers negatively, The International Business Times reported.
"There is going to be one side of the border in England where they may adopt biotechnology, but just across the River Tweed farmers are not going to be allowed to. How are these farmers going to be capable of competing in the same market?" McCornick said.
"What we have now is that our competitors will get any benefits and we have to try and compete," NFUS President Allan Bowie added. "It is rather naive."