AHDB position on Gene Editing

We welcome this positive government announcement on Gene Editing (GE). GE applications can mimic natural genetic variation, but with greater precision and speed.

Fully appraised and evaluated technologies like GE can play a pivotal role in increasing the efficiency of crop and livestock production. Not only does it open the opportunity to accelerate the development of crops and livestock of potential value to farmers and consumers in the UK, but also has the potential to reduce the reliance on imported food and livestock feed.

Organisms developed using GE are currently regulated as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, where animals or plants developed using GE technology either mimic naturally-occurring genetic variation, or contain genetic variation which could have been obtained by conventional crossing and or selection, a simpler, scientifically-credible approach is more appropriate than the regulation currently applied for GMO.

Changes created by GE are not by default inherently more risky than those introduced by conventional breeding. However, the safety of consumers, animal welfare, and avoidance of environmental damage must be paramount in the appraisal of all technologies, including GE.

The political and regulatory climate in the EU has slowed the development of GM/GE crops and livestock of potential value to farmers, consumers and the environment in the UK, as well as access by UK farmers to imported sources of livestock feed. Simplifying the regulatory processes should help to avoid problems of this kind in future without compromising environmental or consumer safety.

Read AHDB's full response to the Defra consultation on the regulation of genetic technologies