On the 23rd of February, Peter Kearns, Special Advisor to Re-Imagine Europa, Joyce Tait, and Alan Raybould discussed the current regulation of genetic technologies for agriculture in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.
Joyce spoke about her work on the UK’s Regulatory Horizon’s Council and its report on genetic technologies. She highlighted the need for regulatory systems to adapt to 21st century technologies and how Brexit and new trade negotiations have turned the UK Government’s attention to regulations and standards. One of the key recommendations of the report is to regulate the products of the technology rather than the technology itself (gene editing or genetic modification).
Peter spoke about developments in Europe, where there has traditionally been very strong opposition to genetic modification, and Alan commented on the public’s and the UK Government’s attitude to genetic technologies for agriculture. They all agreed that these technologies will have a huge role in achieving Net Zero and the targets of the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy.
You can watch the recording of this In Conversation event below.
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