The third reading of the Genetic Technology Bill is scheduled for today (October 31) and is expected to be introduced in the House of Lords the following day
The government has proposed that this legislation will unlock new technologies to boost food production and support farmers to grow more productive crops.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:
“We are already seeing how new genetic technologies can increase yields, make our food more nutritious and result in crops that are more resistant to disease and weather extremes.
“British scientists are leading the world in precision breeding and this bill will put Britain at the forefront of agri-research and innovation – opening the door for more investment and continuing our work to provide farmers with the tools they need to innovate and use new, smart technologies.”
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill covers precision-bred plants and animals developed through techniques such as gene editing, where the genetic changes could have occurred naturally or through traditional breeding methods.
This is different to genetic modification (GM), which produces organisms containing additional genes.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs chief scientific adviser Gideon Henderson said:
“This is an important time for agricultural science. The ability to use gene editing to make precise, targeted changes to the genetic code of organisms.
“For centuries, traditional breeders have made use of our understanding of genetics to breed plant varieties with desirable characteristics.
“Gene editing allows precision breeding to make the same type of genetic changes in a far more efficient and precise way, significantly reducing the time needed to create new varieties.
“Precision breeding is a powerful and important tool to help us tackle the challenges of biodiversity and climate change, while feeding a still growing global population”.
