Friday, January 13, 2023

Bibeau delays CRISPR-created seeds

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has delayed development of regulations to enable plant breeders and seed companies to use CRISPR gene-editing technology to develop improved varieties.

There is speculation that concerns raised by the National Farmers Union about the role of CropLife Canada in gaining government approval for the technology to be used and by organic-industry members who believe sales and exports may be negatively impacted are responsible for the delay.


The technology has been approved in many nations, including the United States, but not yet in Europe which is a significant market for Canadian organic-crop exports.