Cambridge and Norwich researchers from the OpenPlant Synthetic Biology Research Centre have contributed to a recent Royal Society policy briefing urging the government to adopt an evidence-led approach to the regulation of genetically modified crops, which would allow researchers to tackle challenges posed by the climate crisis and global food security.
Prof. Jonathan Jones from the Sainsbury Laboratory Norwich, Prof. Cathie Martin, Prof. Dale Sanders and Prof. Wendy Harwood from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, and Prof. Sir David Baulcombe and Prof. Giles Oldroyd from the University of Cambridge contributed to the ‘Enabling Genetic Technologies for Food Security’ briefing, which proposes changes to current regulations surrounding the use of genetically modified crops.
Whilst the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act passed earlier this year has introduced a new framework for crops modified via precision editing techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9, genetically modified organisms (those in which genes have been moved between species) are still heavily regulated.
The briefing proposes a system that focuses on assessment of scientifically plausible risks and suggests adopting an ‘outcomes-based’ approach to regulation rather than the current ‘rules-based’ system. This would give more focus on regulating the goals and intended outcomes of genetically modified and genome edited crops, and less focus on the tools used to achieve those outcomes.
Prof. Jonathan Jones, lead author of the briefing says ““We need to feed people properly without destroying the planet. [...] GM is one arrow in our quiver, but one we cannot afford to spurn.”
The Royal Society, who published the briefing says “GM methods enable applications that would not be possible with other methods and could be particularly important for reducing the environmental impact of agriculture while providing enough food for a rising population. These methods hold great potential in adapting crops to the pressing challenges posed by climate change, pests, diseases, biodiversity loss and invasive species.”
You can read more from the Royal Society here:
https://royalsociety.org/news/2023/10/gm-crops/
You can read the full briefing here: