UK launches a consultation on Gene editing

Foto credit : shutterstock_54455707

Plant breeding can address global sustainability challenges in agriculture by developing new crop varieties that are less susceptible to pathogens and are more resilient to drought. This will enable farmers to produce high yields while decreasing the use of chemicals and water. To develop these varieties, plant breeders must have access to diverse germplasm and the widest possible array of innovative breeding technologies including next gen sequencing, digital phenotyping, predictive breeding, but also gene editing.

Last week, the UK has launched a consultation on gene editing, backed by the National Farmers Union. The consultation will focus on preventing gene-editing organisms from being regulated in the same way as genetically modified crops. According to UK’s Environmental Protection Act legislation, organisms are not considered GMO, if they could have been developed using traditional breeding methods. Following this train of thought, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs considers organisms produced by gene editingtherefore not as GMOs and align itself with other countries such as Japan, Australia and Argentina, who have all adopted a similar approach. On the other hand, this consultation could result in a divergence from the EU position. It will create a EU_UK trade barrier in food and Ag and potentially cause also national chaos across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

So for all who are interested to share their opinion and supporting data and facts before March 17th go to:

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/agri-food-chain-directorate/the-regulation-of-genetic-technologies/