08/April/21

 

A new scientific paper spells out the future of agricultural gene editing. In spite of claims from GMO promoters that gene editing will save us from climate change and reduce pesticide use, the paper tells us that what we can expect is just more of the same – GM herbicide-tolerant crops, this time produced with gene editing. This will continue the trajectory of increased herbicide use resulting from the spread of GM herbicide-tolerant crops. But there are crucial differences with gene-edited crops, as the paper makes clear. The fact that some governments have deregulated some types of gene editing means that regulatory risk assessment won't be involved in those countries, making gene-edited GMOs faster to develop, more profitable, and potentially more hidden from consumers. GMWatch

 

 

Health Canada has launched a public consultation on a proposal to remove government oversight for some genetically engineered foods, particularly those produced through the new genetic engineering techniques of genome editing (also called gene editing). This proposal would allow some GMOs into the food system without any government safety assessments – these would be unregulated GMOs that the government may not even know exist. It's vital that anyone living in Canada who is concerned about their health and the integrity of the food supply takes part in this consultation. CBAN has produced a guide on how to respond, available as a downloadable pdf or as web text. There's a quick and easy option, or guidance on how to send a more detailed response. CBAN