May 2025
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This conference examined next steps for gene-edited food development, production and regulation in England.
It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to examine next steps for policy to support the delivery of gene-edited food production, with secondary legislation recently being laid before Parliament to secure implementation of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023, alongside publication of guidance outlining requirements of the new regulatory framework that will apply to precision-bred organisms.
We expected the discussion to bring out latest thinking on opportunities for the sector in the developing policy landscape, looking at the role of new technologies in strengthening domestic food security, and helping prepare the agricultural sector for future challenges and demands. It came with Defra’s published UK Food Security Report finding weakened food production stability and supply chain resilience.
Strategic priorities for R&D were discussed, alongside avoiding ecosystem harm to the food system as it adapts to climate change.
The agenda looked at priorities for regulation, with the FSA consulting on a framework for gene-edited food production. Areas for discussion included funding and investment priorities, strategies for tackling barriers to market development, implications of cross-border regulatory divergence, and issues for intellectual property rights.
Those attending also considered options and implications for industry around pre-authorisation processes for products, and managing risk, particularly with new legislation not requiring food labels to identify gene-edited products.
Further sessions considered public engagement on gene-edited products, assessing latest trends in consumer preferences and how best to address concerns around food safety and potential development of new toxins, with discussion on understanding, awareness, and marketing.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- policy and strategic priorities:
- assessing the way forward for secondary legislation and progressing the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act following the publication of guidance in March 2025
- strategic considerations for potential contribution of GM food products in ensuring food security, meeting environmental targets, climate adaptation, and addressing wider agri-food challenges
- priorities for regulatory bodies, manufacturers and government in ensuring safety in gene-edited food production and the safeguarding of animal welfare
- regulation:
- priorities for development and implementation of FSA framework - frameworks around IP, licencing, producer rights, and tackling delivery barriers
- approaches to safety and utilising previous evidence-based approaches to allow for accelerated approval of gene-edited food products
- key considerations for international alignment, inducing divergence from EU regulation and issues for cross-border domestic regulations
- research and innovation:
- industry priorities and addressing barriers to the delivery of gene-edited food development and research
- commercial considerations for patents, investment, and improving regulatory certainty - strategies for incentivising and attracting businesses to develop and launch products in England
- consumer confidence:
- communication, engagement, and addressing challenges surrounding gene-edited food products - improving public information on genetically-edited food safety, origin and authenticity
- assessing options for mandatory labelling of gene-edited products - approaches for improving transparency and traceability
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include officials from Defra; DBT; FSA; FSS; CCC; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
