EPA tightens oversight of novel plant breeding approaches
Picture reference : UPL ltd
Last year, USDA finalized the SECURE ruling where researchers won’t need to ask for agency approval if they give a crop a trait that already exists naturally in a sexually compatible plant. Similar to the approach taken by the USDA, the EPA announced last week that it will now exempt gene-edited plants from an extensive review process if the modifications could have been achieved through conventional breeding methods. But unlike USDA, the EPA still requires applicants who developed a crop with increased pest- and/or disease tolerance, to provide data demonstrating that the changes do not increase pesticide levels beyond those found in conventional crops.
Devastating diseases caused by Fusarium, Phytophthora and Candidatus threaten global banana, cocoa and citrus production. And it's not just tropical fruits that face commercial production extinction. Many fruits and vegetables in temperate regions are threatened by invasive pests and diseases, driven by rising temperatures. The impending loss of these crops not only disrupts the livelihoods of farmers and communities but also poses a significant threat to global food systems.
These global food security challenges form the base for concerns over the EPA’s new regulations. Many farmers, breeders and researchers believe that Plant-Incorporated-Protectants have the potential to replace harmful chemical pesticide spraying. They argue that a more balanced and evidence-based approach is needed to encourage innovation while ensuring rigorous safety assessments.
Canada recently announced a forward-thinking policy for plant breeding innovation. The updated Canadian policy focuses on the characteristic of the product and the impact it can have on our global food production system, rather than the process, i.e. conventional breeding, genome editing or genetic modification, used to develop that product. This new policy clears the path towards harnessing the potential benefits of novel plant breeding approaches, while safeguarding our ecosystems for future generations to come.
