AMCHAM Food & Agri Alert: Genome Editing (GEd)

Vol. 7 of March 22, 2024

In our modern age of biotechnology, new tools are constantly being developed for agricultural improvement. Whether it is DNA sequencing, plant tissue culture, or gene editing, these advances are facilitating the development of better crops.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are one well-known example of agricultural biotechnology. GMOs are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially altered by inserting a piece of foreign DNA. This DNA may be synthetic in origin or sourced from other organisms.

Genome editing (also called gene editing or GEd) involves making precise changes to an organism’s genome without the integration of foreign DNA elements. Several approaches to genome editing have been developed. A well-known one is called CRISPR-Cas9, in which scientists make precise “cuts” in the DNA to create a new genetic variation. Unlike with GMOs (genetically modified organisms), this introduces only minor modifications that are indistinguishable from natural mutations, turning on or off existing genes to enhance desirable traits already present in the species. In GEd genes are not transplanted from other species.

GEd technology has been recognized and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Thirteen countries of the FAO are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and announced their support of the use of GEd technology for commercial and consumption uses at the recent WTO meeting. In addition, over 40 countries around the world, such as Canada, America, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Japan, China, England, the Philippines, Kenya, Russia, and Australia, have published policies covering ‘no transgene = not GMOs’, which conclude that GEd plants are as safe as normal plants.

Furthermore, an important step forward was taken recently when the European Parliament approved new genomic techniques (NGTs) or genome editing, (GEd) on February 7, 2024. As a result, plants that are being produced using GEd technology are not classified as GMOs and are considered to be the same as conventional plants.

Therefore, plants produced using GEd are exempted from the requirements of the GMO legislation. These plants will not require risk assessment, and they can be labeled in the same way as conventional plants.

This modification may play an important role in Thailand’s future regulations and strategies.

GEd in Thailand

In Thailand, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) recognizes that NGTs or GEd may be an important tool for dealing with climate change and plant diseases. GEd is likely to continue playing an important role in the increasingly dire situations of global warming and global food crises.

Since the beginning of 2024, the MOAC has been running several operations targeting the development of GEd knowledge.

On January 24, 2024, Mr. Rapeephat Chantarasriwong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, participated in a seminar with Dr. Adam Cornish, Agricultural Consultant Office of Agricultural Policy, Division of Economics and Business Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Kelley Stange, Advisor to the Ambassador for Agriculture at the American Embassy of Thailand, under the topic “Understanding the Regulations for Controlling Gene Technology”. The seminar sought to exchange knowledge among experts on the use of modern biotechnology and how to accept GEd technology as highly safe.

Dr. Adam Cornish discussed using GEd technology to modify the genetics of groups of plants that can be naturally hybridized to produce high-yielding plant varieties that are resistant to disease and drought, as well as using fertilizers more efficiently to cope with climate change, which is a serious challenge for the agriculture sector, and to increase nutritional value. At present, most countries in the world have invested in research and approved the use of GEd technology, accepting GEd technology for both commercial and consumption purposes as with conventional crops to ensure national food security.

On January 29, 2024, the Department of Agriculture organized a seminar titled “Modern Biotechnology to Solve the Global Crisis and Emerging Pests” at the Research and Development Division for Post-Harvest and Processing of Agricultural Products, Department of Agriculture, Bang Khen. This event was a brainstorming seminar for all stakeholders on how to take advantage of technology that is safe and on par with other countries, as well as creating guidelines for operating and driving GEd technology in Thailand, including communicating with the public and consumers for a better understanding of the safety of GEd technology and its difference to GMOs. Thailand must be able to take advantage of GEd technology in its future planning for global crises and emerging pests that will impact its agricultural sector.

One current project showing that Thailand is ready to support the use of GEd technology has been launched by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC). The Technical Biosafety Committee of BIOTEC has developed its “Guidelines for Consideration of Genome Editing” to provide technical criteria for considering organisms developed with GEd technology. In the guidelines, the genome-edited plants derived from the use of GEd techniques employing site-directed nucleases (SDNs) are generally classified under three categories:

1. SDN-1 (deletion), a site-directed mutagenesis without using a DNA sequence template.;
2. SDN-2 (substitution), a site-directed mutagenesis using a DNA sequence template.; and

• SDN-3 (insertion), site-directed insertion of gene/large DNA sequence using a DNA sequence template.

In the view of BIOTEC, SDN-1 plants are not considered as GMOs, while SDN-2 and SDN-3 plants may be considered as GMOs. If a party wishes to use GEd in food, a safety assessment by BIOTEC will be required. The required safety assessment for SDN-1 is lower than for SDN-2 and SDN-3.

This is a positive sign showing that Thailand is ready to move forward with GEd technology development. We may see wider discussions, acceptance and regulations regarding GEd technology in the future.

Thank you to the Department of Agriculture and BIOTEC websites for the useful information used in this article.