Innovation always needed from the farm and the lab

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/05/2023 (1117 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New federal guidelines this week that further clarify how gene-edited crops will be regulated in Canada were applauded by the agricultural industry and farm groups, with a few notable exceptions.

However, even the disappointment expressed by the Canadian Organic Trade Association was muted. While that sector now feels vulnerable without gaining a regulatory requirement for transparency it was seeking, its concerns were not ignored.

Gene-editing technologies allow plant breeders to manipulate the genome of living organisms by adding, removing or altering genetic sequences in specific locations along the DNA chain. Whereas transgenes or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are created by transplanting a foreign gene or genes into the organism, gene editing uses a variety of approaches to work with what is already embedded in the code.

It creates outcomes that resemble conventional plant breeding, but much more quickly because it reduces the number of generations needed to bring together the desired package of traits such as disease resistance or higher yield. There are also fewer unintended effects than with conventional plant breeding, which crosses multiple genes at once.

These tools are widely seen as an important step forward for new variety development.

Federal regulatory agencies decided last year that varieties produced by these methods don’t need to go through the longer assessment and approval process required for genetically modified organisms.

But none of this sits well with organizations and individuals opposed to any artificial manipulation of genomes.

Organic farmers lose their certification if they use products of genetic engineering. But they are currently allowed to buy conventionally produced seed if organic seed isn’t available. The fear is that they may inadvertently end up with gene-edited seed, which throws not only their individual status into jeopardy, but also Canada’s ability to export organic commodities.

The sector had asked for a regulation requiring seed companies to disclose if they had used gene-editing technology in their seed development process.

This week’s announcement stopped short of that, instead creating a government and industry steering committee to continue dialogue around the issues. It also expanded a publicly accessible database managed by Seeds Canada that allows anyone to go in and see a list of varieties being developed using a range of techniques and when they are coming to market. Seed companies have committed to keeping that list up to date.

The federal government has promised to continue monitoring the database and hasn’t ruled out further measures if seed companies aren’t complying.

Any way you slice it, the outcome of the Canadian Food inspection Agency’s consultation process demonstrates that the industry has collectively come a long way since the early days of bringing new biotech innovations to market.

GMOs continue to be rejected by some consumers more than 25 years after they were introduced. The controversy has spawned labelling wars, fuelled the anti-science movement and created entire value chains dedicated to the market segment that wants to remain GMO-free.

Some of the industry leaders of that era have retrospectively acknowledged the rollout was botched, largely due to a lack of transparency and the assumption that consumers wouldn’t care about their gene jockeying.

Critics easily transformed scientific lingo such as “genetically engineered,” which the public didn’t understand, into “Frankenfoods,” using fear to promote anti-biotech campaigns.

Fear of our food or new technology isn’t why Canada should ensure its organic sector thrives.

While its economic contribution to the Canadian economy pales in comparison to the mainstream, it is still a $9.35-billion industry with significant exports.

More importantly, the sector’s certification and auditing protocols provide an assured choice to Canadian consumers.

Most importantly, because organic farmers don’t use commercial fertilizer or pesticides, they constantly innovate on the farm to manage without them.

This is not suggesting conventional farmers aren’t innovative. But they can and do look to the organic sector for tactics to help with problems such as weeds that can no longer be controlled with pesticides or if they want to grow some of their own fertilizer.

With the challenges ahead, we’re going to need the all the innovative thinking we can muster — from the lab as well as on the farm.

Laura Rance is vice-president of content for Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@farmmedia.com