Government to pave the way for gene editing
The focus will be on plants produced by genetic technologies, where genetic changes could have occurred naturally or could have been a result of traditional breeding methods.
Rules for producing gene-edited crops will become aligned with conventional breeding methods for research and development into plants, but scientists will be required to notify Government of any research trials.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) chief scientific advisor Gideon Henderson said: “Gene editing technologies provide a more precise way of introducing targeted genetic changes – making the same types of changes to plants and animals that occur more slowly naturally or through traditional breeding.
“These tools enable us to harness the richness of natural variation to build better crops, speeding up a process humans have done through breeding for hundreds of years. There are exciting opportunities to improve the environment, and we can also produce new varieties that are healthier to eat and more resistant to climate change.”
Scientific approach
With the UK now outside of the EU, the Government are now free to set its own rules for the future of food production, opening up opportunities to ‘adopt a more scientific and proportionate approach to the regulation of genetic technologies’.
Its first step will be to change the rules relating to gene editing, in a bid to cut red tape and make research and development easier.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Gene editing has the ability to harness the genetic resources that nature has provided. It is a tool that could help us to tackle some of the biggest challenges that we face – around food security, climate change and biodiversity loss.
“Outside the EU, we are able to foster innovation to help grow plants that are stronger and more resilient to climate change. We will be working closely with farming and environmental groups to ensure that the right rules are in place.”
‘Huge potential’
National Farmers Union (NFU) vice president Tom Bradshaw said the Government’s new stance on precision breeding techniques – such as gene editing – had the potential to offer huge benefits to food production in the UK and help achieve climate change net zero.
“The world’s climate emergency points to the urgency of applying this technology to farming and this announcement is an important first step towards a properly functioning legislative system,” said Bradshaw.
“These new tools could help in a number of ways, from addressing pest and disease pressures on crops and farm animals and improving animal health and welfare, to increasing farmers’ resilience in the event of extreme weather events such as flooding and drought and benefiting the environment through more efficient use of resources. This would mean lower emissions and less waste, allowing British farmers to farm more sustainably and profitably.”
However, he was quick to warn the Government that gene editing was not a silver bullet. Any potential for success would require robust new Government regulation, fit for purpose and based on sound science.
‘Route to market’
“The NFU will be examining today’s announcement in detail and will work with Defra to ensure the right legislative system is in place, not only to drive research but also to provide a route to market for improved varieties and breeds,” Bradshaw added.
“We also urge government to provide the necessary researchers and companies with a clear timetable. The government will also need to work closely with the devolved administrations to deliver something which works for the whole of the UK.”
The next step will be to review the regulatory definitions of a genetically modified organism, to exclude organisms produced by gene editing and other genetic technologies if they could have been developed by traditional breeding. GMO regulations would continue to apply where gene editing introduces DNA from other species into an organism.
Meanwhile, a report calling for an overhaul of the UK’s entire regulatory framework argues the move could unlock innovation in the food industry – Food Manufacture talked to MP and co-author George Freeman about that vision.
Source: foodmanufacture.co.uk