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UK Parliament passes secondary legislation to implement precision breeding

Parliament has now passed the secondary legislation to implement the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act for plants in England. This achievement is the result of years of hard work by many individuals within our organization, the Norwich Research Park Public Affairs Group, and others who have advocated for this legislative change.

One way we have supported the government in making evidence-based policy decisions is by participating in events such as the 'Agri-Science Week in Parliament' in January 2025.

This event, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science & Technology in Agriculture (APPGSTA), was a collaborative exhibit showcasing UK taxpayer-funded research and innovation in areas like precision breeding, controlled environment agriculture, robotics/automation, precision farming, and AI.

A team from the John Innes Centre, along with other leading UK agri-tech, plant, and animal science institutes, attended, including the Roslin Institute, University of Lincoln, Rothamsted Research, and NIAB.

Our goal was to highlight the capabilities of the John Innes Centre in addressing some of the UK's most significant challenges, such as food security, human health, and sustainable agriculture. Focusing on precision breeding, we presented case studies of our research, including the development of vitamin D-enriched tomatoes and virus yellows-resistant sugar beet, in the Upper Waiting Hall of the Palace of Westminster.

Professor Cathie Martin FRS, group leader, said: "We were delighted to speak to MPs and parliamentarians about the role of research in agriculture. Science has the potential to revolutionize the resilience of our crops and fortify our foods with nutrients. My motto is 'food is healthcare,' and harnessing the potential of nature will help us support farmers and improve public health."

Dr. Mimi Tanimoto, policy and public affairs manager who attended the event, said: "Policy change is crucial to unlocking the innovations that science can bring to the UK and the rest of the world. We have worked hard to provide policymakers and parliamentarians with access to expert advice, ensuring that policies are evidence-based and enable science to have a real-world impact for the benefit of people and the environment."

The John Innes Centre's science has many areas of crossover with, or application in, agriculture. Two of our strategic programs are 'Delivering Sustainable Wheat' and 'Building Robustness in Crops,' and many of our discoveries relate to the way plants work, helping us better understand how to promote their health.

Professor Steve Penfield, group leader and Building Robustness in Crops program leader, said: "The problems facing farmers in the UK and the world are complex, varied, and imminent. With the threat of continuing climate change and an increased population, it is vital to both increase yield and improve the quality and resilience of what is being grown.

"Our science is well-placed to combat these threats, through both precision and traditional breeding, and offers cleaner solutions that reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides. We are open to educating and informing policymakers and the public about these new and innovative areas of science that could help us all in the future."

During the week, the APPGSTA unveiled its new high-level vision, setting out a 30:50:50 Innovation Agenda for UK Agriculture. It includes ambitions to increase UK agricultural production by 30% by 2050 while reducing farming's environmental footprint by 50% per unit of output, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, and soil health. It outlines what might be needed to deliver this, such as a land use framework, farm support policies, regulation of innovative technologies, and the organization of research and development.

Dr. Jonathan Clarke, head of business development, concluded: "I'm excited to hear that the APPG on Science and Technology in Agriculture is supportive of long-term, measurable objectives for the agri-science sector. The correct building blocks are vital in delivering our collective commercial ambitions, including appropriate regulations, cohesive funding, and strategic research and development."

Agri-Science Week is just one of the many engagement events and contacts that colleagues at the John Innes Centre and partners have facilitated to support precision breeding legislation in England.

Source: John Innes Centre

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