Following the news that Parliament has passed the secondary legislation to implement the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act for plants in England, we welcome the benefits this offers, and the increased opportunities for plant and microbial science to improve the health of plants, people and the planet. 

Our scientists have used precision breeding techniques to develop tomatoes fortified with vitamin D by gene editing a natural pathway so that tomatoes accumulate more provitamin D3. The passing of the secondary legislation means that this innovation could help millions of people with vitamin D deficiency, a growing issue linked to higher risk of cancer, dementia and many leading causes of mortality. 

Without this vital legislation, innovations like the gene edited tomato would be difficult to market and sell in England.  

Dr Penny Hundleby, Research Partnerships and HP3 Hub Lead at the John Innes Centre, said: “Precision breeding offers England a unique opportunity to lead the way in sustainable food production. Alongside our partners on the Norwich Research Park, we are fast becoming an epicentre of precision breeding. We are focussed on working together and collaborating with partners and investors to improve the sustainability and quality of food and farming for the future. 

“The passing of this forward-thinking legislation means that this science will be able to benefit the health of people, plants, and the planet. The use of precision breeding technologies in research will expand our understanding of plant genetics and strengthen the entire agricultural science ecosystem, reinforcing the country’s leadership in agricultural innovation.” 

Dr Jonathan Clarke, Head of Business Development at the John Innes Centre, said: “As an early adopter of this innovative technology in Europe, England can now benefit from investment from organisations wanting to commercially develop precision bred crops. The passing of this legislation allows the momentum to continue and furthers the economic viability of these important scientific innovations. 

“Our research capability and pedigree in this space is truly exciting, and this legislation has opened the door for our researchers to fully harness nature’s power and potential – to deliver huge benefits to society, supporting both farmers and consumers.” 

Professor Graham Moore FRS, Director of the John Innes Centre, said: “This legislation is a monumental step for science and innovation in England. Precision breeding has real potential to improve people’s lives, and I am proud to have seen this secondary legislation pass during the last few months of my tenure as Director. The future of plant science in England is bright.” 

This new secondary legislation policy change brings England more into line with the regulatory approaches taken by most countries outside of the EU, including Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, the USA, and Japan. 

This announcement comes after a number of years of numerous high-profile engagements by the John Innes Centre team with MPs and policy makers, from submitting evidence to support policy making and through roundtables and meetings with All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs), Defra and the Food Standards Agency, as well as events such as Agri-science week in Parliament.  

What is precision breeding? 

• Precision breeding is a generic term used in the legislation for a raft of genetic technologies that allow breeders to make precise, targeted changes to the genetic code (DNA) of plants. It can be used to introduce beneficial new traits such as resistance to pests and diseases, improved nutritional value and climate resilience. 
• Precision breeding, as defined in the legislation, results in a plant that could have been generated through traditional breeding or natural processes.  
• Precision breeding is usually much faster and more precise than traditional breeding techniques, which can take decades to achieve the same results.

 

Image – Gene Edited Vitamin D tomato and a wild type tomato