Members of the International Seed Federation are asking for harmonized regulations on new breeding techniques such as gene editing to speed up valuable technologies.
"Regulations applicable to plant breeding innovation must be risk proportionate, science-based, and adaptable to reflect evolving scientific knowledge as well as the application of that knowledge," said an ISF spokesperson as reported by AgTechNavigator.
According to ISF, consistent regulatory policies will greatly impact continuous research and encourage plant breeders to continue developing better plant varieties by applying all the techniques accessible to them. This would not just help the farmers worldwide but the whole society.
The Federation stressed that in the next few decades, the new breeding techniques will hasten the development of new products that provide solutions to global challenges such as climate change and food security. This will include drought-resistant fruits and vegetables and consumer-focused products such as non-browning lettuce and pit-less cherries and fruits, which also contribute to food waste reduction.
Source: ISAA.org