Genetic Modification for Agriculture—Proposed Revision of GMO Regulation in Australia
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Review—GM Crops Globally
2.1. GM History
2.2. GM Regulation
2.3. Genome Editing
2.4. GM Regulation and Genome Editing
2.5. Trade
3. Review—Anti-GM Lobbies
3.1. History of Anti-GM
3.2. GM Labelling
3.3. Public Education
4. Climate Change and Genetic Adaptation
5. Review—GM Crops in Australia
5.1. GM History in Australia
5.2. Regulation of GM Crops in Australia
6. Conclusions
6.1. Proposal for a Revised NGTS for Food and Fiber Crops Only—Australia
6.2. New Role for OGTR with Food and Fiber Crops
7. Summary of a Proposed Revision of NGTS for Crops in Australia
- Regulatory transparency—The regulations of relevant agencies, such as OGTR, FSANZ and APVMA, should be science-based and supportive of GM products; they will need harmonization between states and in the Commonwealth through the LGFGT Forum, in which all ministers are represented.
- Revision of NGTS/OGTR legislation to exempt GM food and fiber crops from regulation, licensing, surveillance, research containment, transport restrictions, and registering of field trials—Food from both conventionally bred and GM crops would still need to comply with FSANZ standards.
- Climate change challenges for world food security—All food and fiber crops will need all available gene technology tools to be supported and deployed to meet the challenge of feeding the world, even as environments become less hospitable for crop production.
- Research Development and Extension (RD&E)—Research organizations should commit funding for RD&E in crop biotechnology for improved productivity, food nutrition, and adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses (heat, frost, and drought tolerances, salinity, and pest and disease resistance) for tolerance of climate change via introgression from CWR. Notably, the realizing of benefits from CWR for adaptation to climate change will be considerably enhanced by exemption of GE at all levels from OGTR regulation. Current regulations stifle this opportunity.
- Education—Public understanding of gene technologies is very poor. An education campaign is needed across government policy and social media, with education from primary to tertiary levels. A restructured OGTR could champion public education on the history and benefits of crop genetic improvement, from conventional breeding to advanced biotechnology. This could be reinforced with an emphasis on the food needs of a growing population and the risks to crop production posed by climate change.
- Scientifically based objections—Risk objections to GM crops and derived foods should be science-based, take into account medical expertise on health risk, and consider the various social and environmental benefits.
- Broadened scope—Relaxation of regulations for crop GE would facilitate new market entrants for GM crops beyond the current dominance by multinational companies and would broaden the scope of GE across more crops and key traits.
- Labelling—Individuals may wish to choose foods according to whether they are GM-derived or from conventional crops. Labelling requirements would need to be realistic and not place unnecessarily onerous conditions on producers of GM-derived foods.
- Trade—GM produce should not be disadvantaged vis-à-vis other participants in export or import markets by the application of differing state restrictions. These impose unfair barriers on both internal and external trade, which is contrary to the historic free-trade position of Australian governments.
- Co-existence of GM and non-GM crops—The development of segregation protocols for GM and organic products and of stack management practices at grain receival points show that dual systems are manageable. Individuals or regions wishing to produce for niche markets can do so through protocols between seller and buyer, which already exist for the organics industry.
- Organic food—Genetic modification also benefits the organics industry. Genetic resistance to pests and diseases obviate the use of pesticides and insecticides; GE used for tolerance of abiotic stresses can improve adaptation to a changing climate for vegetable and other minor crops.
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
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Redden, R. Genetic Modification for Agriculture—Proposed Revision of GMO Regulation in Australia. Plants 2021, 10, 747. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040747
Redden R. Genetic Modification for Agriculture—Proposed Revision of GMO Regulation in Australia. Plants. 2021; 10(4):747. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040747
Chicago/Turabian StyleRedden, Robert. 2021. "Genetic Modification for Agriculture—Proposed Revision of GMO Regulation in Australia" Plants 10, no. 4: 747. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040747