New legislation enacted for the development of precision crops
UK
Sep 30, 2024
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced new legislation to support precision breeding technology, which will increase food production, reduce costs for farmers and enable drought- and disease-resistant crops to be grown.
Using technologies like gene editing on plants, precision breeding will enable the development of crops that are more nutritious, resistant to pests and disease, resilient to climate change and more beneficial to the environment.
The measures will also reduce the use of pesticides, saving the important pollinators that are so vital to our ecosystem and promoting nature recovery. Additional benefits include boosting investment into the sector, supporting Britain’s food security, increasing food production and reducing costs for farmers.
Precision bred products have already started to undergo research trials, including tomatoes with high levels of vitamin D and sugar beet that is less reliant on pesticides. The legislation will enable these products to be rolled out across the country, reinforcing food security in the face of climate change, supporting our farmers and ensuring we become a world-leader in agri-food innovation.
For further information (in English), click on the Link