Changing rules on gene editing after Brexit could ‘alleviate world hunger’, scientists claim

Author:Tom Bawden

Rules on GM food and animal research in Britain will be reconsidered ahead of Brexit after lobbying by leading UK scientists.

Under European Union rules it is virtually impossible to genetically engineer plants or animals – and scientists fear it will continue even after Brexit, if the country adopts a common rule book as planned.

However, the Government told iNews it would consider a proposal by Britain’s leading scientists to let them carry on their research into gene editing, a major branch of GM, which the EU effectively outlawed in July.

This highly promising new technology has the potential to generate huge amounts of money and alleviate world hunger at the same time, scientists claim.

Increasing crop yields

Gene editing has the potential to significantly increase crop yields and to make livestock more resilient to disease. It works by removing genes with undesirable traits or adding in extra virtuous ones.

The Government indicated it would strongly consider a proposal made in a letter to Environment Secretary Michael Gove from 30 leading scientists, representing universities, manufacturers and associations, for gene editing to be permitted.

A Defra spokesman said: “The Government has always been clear that we take a science-based approach to GM regulation and our priority is safeguarding health and the environment.

“Our view remains that gene-edited organisms should not be subject to GM regulation if the changes to their DNA could have occurred naturally or through traditional breeding methods.

“The European Court of Justice has decided otherwise and this judgment is now binding in the UK. We will consider the points raised in the letter to the Secretary of State and a reply will be issued in due course.”

A scientist’s view

Unlike traditional genetic engineering techniques, gene editing does not involve taking DNA from a different organism – a procedure which has raised fears that the injected genes could find their way into another plant and create an unwanted hybrid organism.

Because gene editing involves DNA only from the same organism and is usually impossible to identify afterwards, scientists say it is ridiculous for the EU to extend the effective ban on traditional GM to gene editing, as July’s court ruling has done.

“I was shocked and disappointed at the ruling which will effectively block EU innovation in gene editing for animal and plant breeding,” Professor Huw Jones, of Aberystwyth University and one of the signatories of the letter, told iNews.

“The UK has an opportunity to show leadership and improve regulatory policy for biotechnology.” After hearing that the rules will be looked at again, he said: “I applaud this position, which is consistent with many other countries outside the EU. It is logical and will be great for UK research and innovation.”