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Recent advances in the tools available for genetic engineering may help to solve some of the problems associated with GM plants. . . A process known as genetic, or genome, editing may help address many of regulatory and public hurdles to adoption of GM crops.
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However, genetically edited crops, by virtue of containing no foreign DNA, are not currently covered by many of the existing government regulations. The US department of agriculture has decided that since genetically edited crops are virtually indistinguishable from crops that have naturally changed, or are a product of selective breeding, they do not fall under the umbrella of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and therefore bypass GMO regulations. . . Whether the EU and countries like Australia will take the same approach is yet to be known.
. . . .Public perception of genetically edited crops will depend on the ability of the food industry and scientists to communicate the technology and inform the public of any need for such foods. In any event, a large determinant of the success of genetically edited plants will be based on the public’s willingness to embrace them.
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With this rapid and disruptive change, there are opportunities for companies and countries willing to accept this technology. . . . If willing, Australia could use this new approach to agriculture to improve our ability to produce food, while developing intellectual property which can be exported alongside our world-leading produce to build on our rich history of agriculture.
Read full, original post: Will breakthroughs in genetic technology make genetic engineered crops more palatable?
