Gene editing could be important for global food security, according to a report by plant geneticists and economists. They said the technology could help cut regulatory costs and speed innovations as it did not involve transferring DNA between species to create transgenic crops. That could also help tackle concerns about GM food. The report added to pressure for less strict rules on biotechnology, public-private partnerships and other approaches to provide developing countries with plant genetic material. “Gene-edited crops are an exciting new tool that can make agriculture more sustainable, but they will require careful consideration of their potential impacts in terms of unintended consequences,” wrote the authors from the
Gene editing could be important for global food security, according to a report by plant geneticists and economists. They said the technology could help cut regulatory costs and speed innovations as it did not involve transferring DNA between species to create transgenic crops. That could also help tackle concerns about GM food. The report added to pressure for less strict rules on biotechnology, public-private partnerships and other approaches to provide developing countries with plant genetic material. The EU, however, has said gene editing must be regulated like any other genetically modified organism.