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Plans by Scotland, and possibly Germany, to ban genetically modified (GM) crops could prove a boon for farmers of conventional crops in these countries, but could also put further research at risk, analysts say.
As a result of the ban, producers of non-GM crops in Scotland may see prices rise if demand remains strong and other countries switch to producing GM crops, according to Hamish Smith, a commodities economist at Capital Economics.
A European Union law introduced earlier in the year gave member states the right to opt-out of EU-wide approvals of new GM crops. This would prevent the crop being grown in that country. Early in August, Scotland announced it would opt-out and Reuters reported last week that Germany would follow suit, citing a letter it viewed from the German agricultural minister.
So far, the only GM crops approved by the EU include strains of maize, rapeseed, cotton and soybean that are resistant to certain herbicides and pest insects.
Read full, original post: German, Scottish ban on GM crops could lift food prices
