The United Kingdom is moving to ease restrictions on gene editing crop research, an influential post-Brexit action that could accelerate the pace of biotechnology adoption in other parts of the globe.
By unlocking the power of gene editing, the UK projects that its farmers will be able to grow crops that are more productive and nutritious and resistant to pests and diseases. The use of gene editing technologies is also envisaged to help better protect the environment.
Pundits have lauded the UK’s move as a game changer in advancing the adoption of agricultural biotechnology and specifically gene editing across the world. As observed in the journal Nature, any changes the UK makes will be watched carefully by countries that have yet to develop policies regarding gene editing.
“Given the precision, affordability and potential offered for quick win, Africa stands to benefit most,” states the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).
Experts have noted that many countries tend to align their regulatory frameworks regarding synthetic biology with established models in the UK and the United States.
The UK government recently published its new plans to tap into the potential of agricultural gene editing following a public consultation earlier this year on the regulation of genetic technologies in England.
The planned changes are expected to ease burdens for plant research and development using technologies such as gene editing (CRISPR/Cas) and align them with plants developed using traditional breeding methods.
Sugar beet is among crops poised to benefit from gene editing technologies to produce more robust varieties.
“Research could lead to sugar beet varieties resistant to viruses that can cause serious yield losses and costs to farmers unless pesticides are used. Such new varieties would help make our farmers more productive and, importantly, also reduce the need for chemical pesticides, protecting our bees and other pollinating insects,” observes the UK government.
In a break with the European Union’s stance, the UK is exploring opportunities to adopt a more scientific and proportionate approach to the regulation of genetic technologies.
“Leaving the EU allows the UK to set our own rules, opening up opportunities to adopt a more scientific and proportionate approach to the regulation of genetic technologies,” stated the country’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Though the EU is also re-evaluating its entire regulatory system for genetically modified (GMO) and gene edited crops, it now lumps the two tools together, subjecting gene editing to the same rigorous review as GM crops. Scientists have opposed that move, saying gene edited crops are more akin to those developed through traditional breeding methods.
The UK will consider the appropriate measures needed to bring gene edited products to market safety and responsibly. In the longer term, this will be followed by a review of England’s approach to GMO regulation more broadly, according to DEFRA.
“As a first step, the government will change the rules relating to gene editing to cut red tape and make research and development easier. 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,” the report states.
While gene editing typically involves specific alterations to a plant’s own genome, genetic modification usually includes the introduction of DNA from other species.
Environment Secretary George Eustice pledged that the UK would foster innovation outside the EU to help grow plants that are stronger and more resilient to climate change, working closely with farming and environmental groups to ensure that the right rules are in place.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, a number of countries have made notable milestones in gene editing legislation, creating a favourable environment for scientists to conduct research that is expected to have far-reaching effects on the continent’s agriculture.
Kenya and Nigeria are at the forefront of genome editing in the region, having made significant progress in establishing guidelines to regulate gene editing and gene drives. Most other countries in the region have opted for case-by-case regulation — an approach used by the EU.
According to Olalekan Akinbo, who is a senior program officer of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), each African Union member state needs to amend its existing laws and regulations to accommodate new emerging technologies, such as genome editing and gene drives, to make them legally binding for every member state to make progress.
Given its dire need for robust food systems that can weather the soaring challenges of a changing climate and rapid population growth, Africa is well advised to adopt gene editing as part of measures to bolster its food production.
Other African countries that already have GMO governance frameworks in place and have started to consider gene editing guidelines include Burkina Faso, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sudan, and Zimbabwe.
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