And they will not be labeled, the peasants will eat what they are given!
Under previous European rules, gene editing of livestock and plants was banned along with genetically modified (GM) produce - dubbed Frankenfood.
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Government green-lights the development of 'gene edited' crops and livestock in the UK - and says they will be sold UNLABELLED in supermarkets
New legislation to speed up development of 'gene edited' crops to be introduced
It could pave way for bird flu-resistant chickens and climate change-proof wheat
Under previous European rules, gene editing of livestock and plants was banned
Will cut pesticide need and make farming more environmentally friendly — Defra
By SAM TONKIN FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 00:01, 25 May 2022 | UPDATED: 09:38, 25 May 2022
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Shoppers will be unable to tell if they are eating 'gene-edited' foods as part of new government plans to speed up the development of crops and livestock with altered DNA.
The new Genetic Technology Bill, due to be introduced to Parliament today, could pave the way for bird flu-resistant chickens, wheat which can withstand climate change, and crops that are more nutritious.
But it will also allow these gene-edited products to be sold without being labelled.
Under previous European rules, gene editing of livestock and plants was banned along with genetically modified (GM) produce — dubbed 'Frankenfood'.
But post-Brexit, the Government is keen to embrace gene editing in an attempt to reduce the need for pesticides in farming, which would make it cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Gene editing differs from GM foods because it alters the existing DNA of a plant or animal, rather than adding DNA from different species.
It could lead to the rolling out of tomato plants that are mildew-resistant to cut fungicide use or are fortified with vitamin D, as well as livestock that is resistant to disease or needs fewer antibiotics.
WHAT ARE GENE-EDITED CROPS AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT TO GM PLANTS?
Gene editing promises to produce 'super-crops' by altering or cutting out genes that naturally occur in plants.
Unlike genetically modified (GM) plants, gene-edited (GE) crops contain no 'foreign' DNA from other species.
GE crops are produced using CRISPR, a new tool for making precise edits in DNA.
Scientists use a specialised protein to make tiny changes to the plant's DNA that could occur naturally or through selective breeding.
GM crops have had foreign genes added to their DNA - a process that often cannot happen naturally.
The US, Brazil, Canada and Argentina have indicated they will exempt GE crops that do not contain foreign DNA from GM regulations.
'Outside the EU we are free to follow the science,' said Environment Secretary George Eustice.
'These precision technologies allow us to speed up the breeding of plants that have natural resistance to diseases and better use of soil nutrients so we can have higher yields with fewer pesticides and fertilisers.'
Pesticides and herbicides used to treat crops often include controversial chemicals that can threaten insects and other wildlife — such as bee-killing neonicotinoids.
The new legislation will allow gene-edited crops to be approved in one year instead of up to ten.
However, critics have called for greater transparency for shoppers, who won't be able to identify which foods are gene-edited as products will be sold without being labelled.
Bright Blue, a Conservative think tank, said consumers should not be 'tricked', while Liz O'Neill of the anti-GM campaign group GM Freeze added that there should be clear labels so people know what they are buying and eating.
Gideon Henderson, Defra's chief scientific adviser, said there were currently no plans to introduce a labelling system for gene-edited products.
'The intention at present is not to introduce a labelling system for gene-edited products which are in many cases identical to those which could be produced in other ways through traditional breeding and cannot actually be identified,' he added.
'So it will be scientifically not sensible to label them as such. But the labelling issue does remain an active question.'
'Super tomato' is genetically engineered to produce as much vitamin D as two EGGS
'Super tomatoes' that have been genetically engineered to produce more vitamin D could help reduce deficiency of the vitamin around the world.
British researchers used a gene editing technique known as CRISPR to edit the gene involved in converting provitamin D3 into cholesterol.
They say editing this gene allows the tomato to keep more of the provitamin, which can be converted to vitamin D through UV exposure or sunlight.
The researchers from the John Innes Centre in Norwich claim the vitamin D you can get from eating one of these genetically modified tomatoes is equivalent to two eggs or 28 grams of tuna.
They could therefore help satisfy child and adult daily requirements for vitamin D3, reducing the risk of developing diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
Earlier this week, Mr Eustice revealed that gene-edited crop production was to be sped up in the UK to help tackle the global food crisis brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russian blockades are preventing the export of key goods such as oils, wheat and corn from the 'breadbasket of Europe', leading to rising food prices and shortages globally including a major threat of famine in Africa.
Legislation to cut red tape and support the development of technology to grow more resistant, more nutritious, and more productive crops will be introduced in Parliament today.
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill will create a new category for gene-edited organisms to regulate them separately from GM organisms.
It will introduce new notification systems for research and marketing, and ensure information collected on precision-bred organisms is published on a public register.
The new legislation aims to speed up the development and commercialisation of crops and livestock bred with genetic editing, although the Government says it is taking a step-by-step approach by creating rules for plants first.
No changes will be made to the regulation of animals under the GM regime until measures are developed to safeguard animal welfare, the Environment Department (Defra) said.
It will also allow the importation of gene-edited foods from other countries, if they meet the same regulations.
'Substantial environmental, health and food security benefits can come from use of genetic technologies to precisely mimic breeding and improve our crops,' said Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Gideon Henderson.
'The UK is home to some of the world’s leading research institutions in this area and these reforms will enable their scientists to use their expertise to make farming more resilient and our food healthier and more sustainable.'
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The rule changes apply to England, so gene-edited foods can be developed and produced by English scientists and farmers, but could also be sold in Scotland and Wales.
The Government has already allowed field trials in England of gene edited crops without having to go through a licensing process costing researchers £5,000 to £10,000, although scientists have to inform Defra of their tests.
Globally, between 20 and 40 per cent of all crops grown are lost to pests and diseases.
Precision breeding has the potential to create plant varieties and animals that have improved resistance to diseases.
Crispr-Cas9 is the primary gene-editing technique and is used to edit animal and plant DNA with great precision.
The hope is that as well as helping with foods, it could also be used to treat diseases caused by genetic mutations, from muscular dystrophy to congenital blindness, and even some cancers.
The first human trials of Crispr therapies are happening already, and researchers hope that they are on the brink of reaching the clinic.
However, some scientists claim to have uncovered evidence the gene-editing tool causes unwanted mutations that may prove dangerous — and is 'much less safe' than once thought.
The Government hopes the new legislation will lead to the production of wheat which can withstand climate change and crops that are more nutritious (stock image)
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The Government hopes the new legislation will lead to the production of wheat which can withstand climate change and crops that are more nutritious (stock image)
Others remain concerned it could create 'designer babies' by allowing parents to choose their hair colour, height or even traits such as intelligence.
The move was widely welcomed by scientists.
Dr Penny Hundleby, senior scientist at the John Innes Centre, said: 'If we are to meet the ambitious targets of addressing the demands of a growing population without further adding to the cost of living, and while also reducing the environmental impact of agriculture, we need to embrace all safe technologies that help us reach these goals.
'Gene editing and genome sequencing are great UK strengths and through the new Genetic Technology Bill they will move us into an exciting era of affordable, intelligent and precision-based plant breeding.'
Prof Martin Warren, Chief Scientific Officer at the Quadram Institute, added: 'The Genetic Technology Bill provides a wonderful opportunity to explore ways to address the nutritional-deficiency that is found in many crop-based foods.
'Gene editing allows for the development of plants with improved qualities that normally take many years to produce using traditional breeding programs.
'The ability to increase levels of key minerals such as iron and zinc and vitamins A, B and D in plants holds significant potential as a way to improve lifelong health through biofortification.'
news.sky.com
Gene-edited tomatoes: British scientists create tomato with 'souped-up' vitamin D
