Grainswest - Fall 2023

Fall 2023 grainswest.com 41 Researcher Andriy Bilichak said gene editing can potentially shave years off plant breeding timelines. Photo:CourtesyofAndriyBilichak SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT “Gene editing is more a fine tuning of genes already present in the plant,” said Singh. “By making small changes in the nucleotide [the building block of DNA and RNA], we can have a major impact on disease resistance and the ability to deal with abiotic stresses such as temperature, water and UV radiation.” The process can be used in the creation of new crop lines and to tweak existing varieties that lack a certain trait of interest to farmers. “The CFIA announcement means that people like me—scientists and academics—are able to make these changes in the lab for the benefit of end-users,” said Singh. In addition to enhancing the precision of plant breeding, gene editing can also shave years from the timeline for new variety development. “With conventional breeding, it often takes five to 10 years to enhance an elite cultivar and make it market ready,” said Andriy Bilichak, a research scientist with the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Cereal Morden Research and Development Centre in Morden, MB. “Contrast that with gene editing, which can accomplish the same in one to two years.” In part, this new chapter of the gene editing story provides certainty, which is critical for crop research and development in the Canadian agriculture sector. “Research communities need clear guidelines and rules on how their products will be governed,” said Shannon Sereda, senior manager, government relations and policy for Alberta Grains. “This CFIA decision will send clear signals to the research community that their work can proceed.” Equally important, gene editing has a major role to play in helping Canadian farmers compete on the world stage. BEAR DOWN AND KEEP UP “Our major trading partners, the U.S., Australia, Japan and New Zealand, have all had guidance in place regarding gene editing,” said Sereda. “They’ve been able to leverage investment in this area and are much closer to having products in the marketplace that leverage this technology. This will hopefully get us back on pace with that kind of innovation and growth.” Although the EU is now looking at softening its regulations around gene editing, there is clearly much to consider when it comes to trade and cutting- edge technology. Krista Zuzak is director of crop protection and production for Cereals Canada. While optimistic about the potential for gene editing to boost international trade, she also preaches caution. “In assessing the marketability of any new product, meeting export and marketing requirements is a key component. Canadian wheat is exported to over 80 countries, so there are many markets to consider when rolling out this technology. We must ensure we are transparent about the use of gene editing to maintain the reputation of our wheat and the trust of consumers.” To derive the greatest benefits from gene editing, the crop sector is now at work on several fronts.