Morning, Monday, 17th June 2024
This conference will examine next steps for gene-edited food production in England, following the passing of the Genetic Technology Act last year, which has enabled the development of gene-edited plant production.
As the FSA develops a new regulatory framework for precision-bred organisms, it will be an opportunity to discuss what the regulation for this innovative area should look like.
Delegates will look at how best to address concerns around food safety and potential development of new toxins, with discussion on pre-market authorisation processes for products and managing risk, as well as implications for enforcement.
With new legislation and a regulatory framework in development, delegates will assess priorities for research and development of gene-edited food products. Areas for discussion include funding and investment, tackling barriers to market development, implications of cross-border regulatory divergence, and issues for intellectual property rights.
Those attending will consider consumer priorities for gene-edited products and their response, including awareness, understanding and appetite, as well as implications for the industry, particularly as new legislation does not require food labels to identify gene-edited products.
The role of gene-editing in improving food security will also be discussed as the food system adapts to climate change, including options for avoiding harm to ecosystems.
We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Professor Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Adviser, Defra; Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Adviser, Food Standards Agency; Jonny Hazell, Senior Policy Adviser, The Royal Society; and a senior speaker confirmed from John Innes Centre.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- policy: impact of approaches being developed through the Genetic Technology Act - what support and engagement with key stakeholders will be needed if ambitions are to be achieved
- regulation: developing an evidence-based regulatory framework - priorities for consumer safety and addressing new toxin concerns - product traceability - managing risk - authorisation processes
- sector priorities: expanding gene-edited food production - investment and licencing - public perceptions - food safety - gene-edited animal and crop IP rights issues
- consumers: awareness and understanding - trends in attitudes - food labelling needs, trust and transparency
- food security: investment priorities - maximising potential for crop resilience, improving availability of food in the supply chain, and adapting to climate change - minimising harm to ecosystems
- R&I: funding and investment priorities - supporting investor confidence - developing the science and research base and a research notification system - increasing data accuracy
The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who are due to attend from APHA; CMA; Defra; DBT; DfE; DAERA, NI; FSA; Ofwat; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government; as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons.
