The Scottish Government

GM Dialogue

The idea for a Public Debate on GM came from a recommendation of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) in their report on the GM farm scale evaluations 'Crops on Trial' published in September 2001.

Government accepted the recommendation agreeing with the AEBC that a public debate would help to deepen public understanding of the issues surrounding GM.

The government added additional elements to the initial idea of a public debate to form a GM dialogue also consisting of an economic study and a science review.

The aim of the dialogue was:-

• To identify the questions which the public has about GM issues

• To provide evidence based information to the public on scientific economic and other aspects of GM.

• To allow people to reach their own informed judgements on this subject.

• To provide information to government on public attitudes to the scientific, economic and other aspects of GM.

Public Debate - GM Nation?

Economic Study

Science Review

The Scottish Executive has carefully considered the results of each of these stands of the GM dialogue and has responded jointly with the UK Government and other Devolved Administrations. (Click on each strand for further information)

Government Response to the GM Dialogue