British farmers need all the help science can offer. Time to allow gene editing | Sir David Baulcombe
Written by Sir David Baulcombe
Plant scientist Sir David Baulcombe argues we must adapt the way we produce food to meet future agricultural challenges
The agriculture bill, now going through parliament, could influence whether we use gene editing on our farms. At present, this country is out of line with the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and Japan in that our regulatory framework prevents gene editing in crops and farm animals. A proposed amendment to the bill will not lead to unregulated use of gene editing but, if passed, it would give the secretary of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) the power to consult widely and make appropriate changes to the regulatory process.
For the government to adopt a gene-editing amendment to the agriculture bill would be a big step in the right direction
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