The government have published a press release on new plans to unlock the potential benefits of gene editing as part of their response to the gene editing consultation.
Prof Nick Talbot, Executive Director of The Sainsbury Laboratory, said:
We welcome the government’s announcement on genome editing. This technology will help plant breeders create new crop varieties to provide healthy and nutritious food in a sustainable way. In the face of the climate emergency, we need new innovation in agriculture. We have to work together to make agriculture more sustainable and much less dependent on fossil fuels. Doing nothing is no longer an option.
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Prof Dale Sanders, Director of the John Innes Centre, said:
I’m pleased that the Government is acting to change the regulation of gene edited plants and I welcome today’s announcement. But while DEFRA’s announcement is a step forward for crop trials, it is disappointing that the decision applies only to research and development.
“We will only see the benefits of these technologies if crops developed this way are able to reach supermarkets and customers. It is frustrating when scientific breakthroughs cannot lead to genuine improvements to the foods that we eat.
