Gene-editing and organic agriculture hand in hand

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Sustainability, organic production and breeding innovation should go hand in hand. That is at least what I always believed, and it seems that our Canadian friends found a way to make it happen.

Yesterday, the Canadian government announced how they will handle crop cultivars that contain gene-editing as part of the breeding process. These guidelines are the result of an extensive consultation process that began in 2021. Marie-Claude Bibeau, the minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food stated that “Gene-editing technologies have opened a new era for plant breeding, replicating conventional methods more quickly. The scientific consensus is that gene-edited crops are as safe for humans, animals, and the environment as those created through conventional breeding”. The move supports the introduction of gene-edited products in the Canadian market, specifically clarifying that gene-editing will not be considered a GMO under Canadian rules.

To help maintain the integrity of Canada’s organic certification, which allows the use of conventional but not gene-edited seed, the government is announcing a series of measures to ensure transparency in how the seed is produced. Firstly, the creation of a Government-Industry Steering Committee to facilitate ongoing discussions as gene-edited products are introduced in the marketplace. Secondly, the expansion of the Seeds Variety Database to provide transparency around individual seed varieties and respective breeding innovations that were used for seed development. Thirdly, federal oversight of this database to ensure completeness and robustness. In addition to these measures, the minister also announced that the government will provide funding to support the review of Canada's organic standards, which are updated every five years and due for renewal in 2025.