Future regulation of gene editing

29 September 2021

Pipette and petri dish

Photograph: iStock

The NFU believes new precision breeding techniques, such as gene editing, could protect crops and animals from pests and disease, help deliver net zero and allow farmers to produce more home-grown food.

The government’s consultation focused on stopping certain gene editing organisms from being regulated in the same way as GM (genetic modification), as long as they could have been produced naturally or through traditional breeding.

Gene editing is different to GM where DNA from one species is introduced to a different one. Gene edited organisms do not contain DNA from different species, and instead only produce changes that could be made slowly using traditional breeding methods. But at the moment, due to a legal ruling from the European Court of Justice in 2018, gene editing is regulated in the same way as genetic modification.

Responding to the government’s consultation on future regulation, we at the NFU believe that farmers should have the choice to access the best tools available to enable a resilient and innovative British farming industry.

29 September 2021

Changes to the rules allowing gene editing field trials

The government has announced changes to the rules allowing gene editing field trials. This change comes about as the UK no longer has to follow EU rules that regulated gene editing in the same way as GM (genetic modification).

Gene editing is different from GM as it does not result in the introduction of DNA from other species and creates new varieties similar to those that could be produced more slowly by natural breeding processes. Currently they are regulated in the same way as genetically modified organisms.

Announcing the change George Eustice Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Gene editing has the ability to harness the genetic resources that nature has provided. It is a tool that could help us in order to tackle some of the biggest challenges that we face – around food security, climate change – and biodiversity loss.”

NFU response

Responding to the government announcement on future regulation of precision breeding techniques such as gene editing, NFU Vice President Tom Bradshaw said: “It is very encouraging to see the government’s view that new precision breeding techniques, such as gene editing, have the potential to offer huge benefits to UK farming, the environment and the public, and will be vital in helping us achieve our climate change net zero ambition.

“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.”

Better quality, increased nutritional value and a longer shelf life

He added: “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.

“Crucially, precision breeding technologies will also help in the development of foods with direct benefits to the public; better quality, increased nutritional value and products with a longer shelf life.”

Not a silver bullet

Tom continued: “We know gene editing is not a silver bullet. But if we are to make this a success, any new government regulation must be robust, fit for purpose and based on sound science. This will in turn provide public confidence, enable diverse and accessible innovation, and allow investment in products for the UK 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. 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.

“British farming is innovative and ambitious and by seeking to use more sophisticated and targeted breeding tools for our crops and livestock, we can continue to produce sustainable, climate-friendly food well into the future.”

Sustainable solutions for UK sugar beet

NFU Sugar Board chair Michael Sly has welcomed the move toward precision breeding and a possible solution to the current struggle with virus yellows disease. Michael said: “This is an important step towards sustainable solutions to the key issues facing the UK sugar beet sector.

“I am pleased that government has recognised the potential for gene edited sugar beet varieties to go some way to address the serious yield losses growers face as a result of virus yellows disease.

“Gene editing technology also has the potential to help provide solutions to fungal diseases such as, Cercospora and pests, such as free-living nematodes which have a direct impact on the viability of growers’ businesses.

“However, gene editing is not a silver bullet, and this is just the first step towards a properly functioning legislative system which will be developed in the coming years. We require a clear timetable and regulatory certainty to develop the long-term solutions our sector needs.”

Devolved issue

Gene editing is a devolved issue, the changes only apply to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are free to take a different approach. Discussions will be needed between governments before primary legislation is brought forward.

We continue to work with Defra on this important announcement.

17 March 2021

Consultation closes

This consultation has now closed.

16 March 2021

NFU submits response

Responding to the government’s consultation on future regulation, we at the NFU believe that farmers should have the choice to access the best tools available to enable a resilient and innovative British farming industry.

NFU Vice President Tom Bradshaw said: “The underlying principle of this consultation is that some new breeding techniques such as gene editing are not the same scientifically as GM (genetic modification) and should therefore not be regulated in the same way, an approach already used in several countries around the world and one the NFU supports.

“Gene editing offers huge opportunities for farmers and this consultation has provided an opportunity for lively debate among our membership. We believe gene editing could help address pest and disease pressures in our crops and livestock, increase resilience in the event of extreme weather, as well as reducing our impact on the environment through a more efficient use of resources. This would support our ambitions to become net zero by 2040, allowing farmers to farm sustainably and profitably.

“We recognise that gene editing technology on its own will not be a silver bullet and if the government is to make a success of gene-editing, the regulation must be fit for purpose and robust. It needs to be based on robust science, enable diverse and accessible innovation, empower public sector research organisations to drive development and allow investment in products for the UK market.

“And it’s vital that the UK is still able to trade with the EU and that the internal UK market remains functional should England take a different approach to regulating new precision breeding techniques. Government must analyse the implications and discuss the issues in detail with its counterparts in other countries as well as with all parts of the UK supply chain as a matter of urgency. Above all, it must take responsibility for the policy and communication needed to inform the public to give them confidence in the proposed regulation.

“If we are to deliver the ambitions we have for British farming, the use of new and exciting tools that science offers will ensure farmers can continue to produce sustainable, climate-friendly food well into the future.”

NFU members can read the NFU's final response to the consultation.

7 January 2021

Government launches consultation into gene editing

Responding to the announcement that government is to launch a consultation on the future regulation of gene editing, NFU Vice President Tom Bradshaw said: “New precision breeding techniques such as gene editing have the potential to offer huge benefits to UK farming and the environment and are absolutely critical in helping us achieve our climate change net zero ambition.

“In our drive to achieve net zero by 2040, these new tools could help us address pest and disease pressures on our crops and livestock, increasing our resilience in the event of extreme weather events, as well as reducing our impact through a more efficient use of resources, resulting in lower emissions and less waste.

“New biotechnologies are also enabling the development of foods with much more direct benefit to the public, such as healthier oils, higher vitamin content and products with a longer shelf life.

“Certainty, transparency and trust in the regulation of biotechnologies, such as gene editing, are essential for farmers and industry, society and scientists, so that safe and effective precision breeding can be delivered as part of a thriving, knowledge-based, food and farming sector and we look forward to responding to this government consultation in detail.

“We know that on its own gene editing will not be a silver bullet, but it could be a very important tool to help us meet the challenges for the future.”

The government consultation into future regulation of gene editing will be announced by Defra Secretary of State George Eustice at the Oxford Farming Conference on Thursday 7 January.

The consultation will run for ten weeks until Wednesday 17 March at 23:59.

Gene editing is a technique that can be used to make changes to a cell's DNA.

The technology can be used to delete existing, add new, or replace DNA sequences within an existing cell.

Making changes to a cell's DNA has the potential to affect how that cell functions. 

Gene editing alters genes that already exist naturally within the organism. It does not involve adding genes from elsewhere / another organism.

Read more about the consultation at: GOV.UK |  Genetic technologies regulation.

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This page was first published on 07 January 2021. It was updated on 29 September 2021.


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