A series of
genome editing related research work in Africa has triggered the need for the
continent to develop a dedicated policy for new and precision breeding
techniques, especially for genome editing.
According to experts who are already doing
gene editing research, National Biosafety Authorities in the continent need to
develop regulations on the innovation with speed.
They say that whereas the
adoption of the emerging new plant breeding innovations, is the way to go,
Africa needs to take the leadto ensure that adequate guidelines are in place to
streamline decision making processes.
Among other things, this process calls for
stakeholder dialogue on technology development involving gene editing, in
Africa and globally. Such stakeholder dialogues should discuss emerging best
practices regarding regulatory approaches. This will then be followed up by the
development and review of genome editing guidelines.
For starters, New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) and Precision
Breeding Techniques (PBTs) refer to the tools and methods used to develop new
varieties more precisely and rapidly. Precision defines the technique’s accuracy.
It is applicable in both plants and animals. They are broad tools among which
gene editing is one. Plant breeding innovations are those specific to
plants. Gene editing therefore applies in both new breeding techniques and in
precision breeding techniques.
Regulators in Africa hold it that three major
challenges stand out when it comes to gene editing. These include how to
regulate genome editing technology given that currently different
countries regulate it differently. Yet how would they detect genome edited products that do not result into
a GMOi.e. where no foreign DNA has been added? Finally, it would be hard to
carry out labelling and traceability of such products while in
the market.
Based on the need to improve agricultural productivity and increased
knowledge of genomics, researchers have developed many new ways for breeding
more productive, efficient plants using genome editing.
Even though many people may think that gene editing is a new
concept, the technology has been around us for a while and plant breeding has
improved over the years. Latest technologies such as Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMOs) and products of genome editing are advancements of science and
breeding over time. They are critical for sustainability and food security, and
benefits all in the food chain including farmers and consumers.
Policy
makers should therefore adopt regulatory policies that are science-based,
proportionate to risk, and risk/benefit-based, predictable and promote
innovations. As the continent comes together to work on this, care should be
taken to see to it that gene editing techniques are not put in the same basket
as GMOs.
Already, as at now, some researchers across the
continent have complained that delayed decision by African governments on
whether to regulate new breeding techniques using existing laws or developing
new ones is hampering research on gene editing.
Addressing a regulators’ forum recently in
Nairobi, Dr Steve Runo of Kenyatta University and Mr. James Karanja of Kenya
Agricultural and Livestock Organizationcalled onAfrican governments to issue
clear guidelines from conceptualization all the way to commercialization of
genome editing products.
The two researchers noted that a review of the
current Biosafety Acts may not be the way to go since gene editing does not
involve addition of any DNA unlike genetically modified organisms.
Dr Runo, said
that his team at Kenyatta University is developing sorghum varieties resistant
to striga using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique which is a simple and
efficient genome editing tool.The target genes are
those responsible for signaling production of striga. Mutant lines will be
selected and further developed for possible commercialization. A mutant is
an animal or plant that is physically different from others of the same species
because of a change in its genes.
Mr. Karanja
discussed the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) Disease project, a collaborative
project with Corteva Agri-Science and CIMMYT, which aims at developing maize
varieties resistant to the disease. The South Rift region of Kenya, which is
one of the grain basket regions of the country, is among the worst affected by
the disease. The approach by MLN project is through genome editing and will
target the gene responsible for susceptibility to the virus.
Another
researcher, Dr. Leena Tripathi of IITA called for the regulations to be put in
place to help guide her work in two crop varieties under genome editing
research i.e. banana and yam projects. The banana project is aimed at
developing banana varieties resistant to banana streak virus. Initially the
project used a biological process known as RNAi technology but after
unsuccessful results a change of concept to genome editing was made. RNA interference (RNAi) is a method of blocking
gene function by inserting short sequences of ribonucleic acid (RNA) that match
part of the target gene’s sequence, thus no proteins are produced. The yam project also employs genome editing and is aimed at
developing virus resistant varieties.
In Kenya, genome editing techniques are currently regulated
using similar approach of GMOs meaning that no guidelines specific to genome
editing exist. Risk assessment follow the existing procedure for GMOs.
Contained Use Regulations, 2011 are being applied to make decisions on research
projects under containment.
Regulators around the world have also been developing regulations to
approve products developed using various genome editing techniques with the general
agreement among many regulatory agencies is that “where no new DNA is introduced,
end-product should not be considered genetically modified.”
The author is the Communication and
Advocacy Officer at the African Seed Trade Association based in Nairobi, Kenya
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