England Set to Approve Precision Breeding Bill

Quick Summary:

• The UK government is close to approving rules for precision-bred plants in England under the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
• Precision breeding uses genetic editing techniques limited to changes achievable thru traditional breeding. These crops pose no greater health or environmental risk compared to conventional crops and are distinct from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
• the draft legislation, if approved, will allow the commercial use of gene-edited crops with traits that include reduced pesticide use, resistance to climate change, disease resilience, enhanced nutrition, and lower costs for farmers.
• Examples of potential gene-edited crops include oilseed crops enriched in ω-3 oils, non-browning potatoes aimed at reducing food waste, tomatoes fortified with vitamin D₃, and high-yield strawberry plants.
• Several countries like the United States, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Canada have embraced similar genomic agriculture techniques. The EU is also working on a relaxed regulatory framework for naturally occurring genomic methods exempt from GMO rules.
• scotland and Wales opted out of the Precision Breeding Act but may reconsider their stance as global support grows.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The UK’s move toward regulating precision-bred plants highlights an emerging trend among nations embracing advanced agricultural technologies such as gene editing to address food security issues in light of climate change and sustainability demands. For India – an agrarian economy facing climatic uncertainties like erratic monsoons – these developments could inform domestic debates surrounding similar technologies. Currently restricted by tight GMO regulations due to public concerns about biosafety risks and environmental impact, India might find inspiration from countries distinguishing precision breeding from GMOs based on scientific evaluation.

adopting such frameworks could equip Indian farmers with tools required for crop disease resistance or enhanced farming efficiency while proactively managing ecological consequences. Nonetheless-as demonstrated by Scotland’s caution-a balanced policy must involve public dialog before implementation tailored towards long-term benefits without undermining safety concerns essential trust-building clarity remains pivotal Read More=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-025-02715