b'BREAKING DOWN PLANT BREEDING BARRIERSNew survey results show Canadas current PNT legislation could be holding back innovation in the breeding space. Marc ZienkiewiczCURRENT REGULATIONSin Canada surrounding Plants withassociate professor in the Department of Novel Traits (PNTs) have created an innovation barrierAgricultural and Resource Economics at in terms of applying genome editing technologies to theUSask. He collaborated on the survey with development of new varieties, particularly in public sectorSavannah Gleim and Simona Lubieniechi.research. The regulatory system developed in Thats the finding of a recent survey of 93 public andCanada in the early 1990s to regulate GM private plant breeders conducted by researchers at theproducts regulates PNTs, comparing them University of Saskatchewan (USask). to conventional varieties. The results contribute to the ongoing debate regardingPNT varieties are approved if a risk how or whether to regulate products of genome-editedassessment concludes the risk of the PNTStuart Smythplant breeding, beyond the existing agronomic and safetyvariety is substantially equivalent to con-requirements, according to lead researcher Stuart Smyth,ventional crop varieties. AWB_Germination-Dec2020.pdf 1 2020-12-17 6:32:13 PMRegulatory approval decisions are based on the final product, not the pro-cess used to create the product. 77 %According to the survey results, currentof respondents PNT regulations are having an impact on indicated that present variety development research. Canadas PNT More than one-quarter of plant breed- regulatory framework ers are clearly expressing they view PNTneeds to be regulations to be a barrier to investment.updated to reflect current levels Ultimately, what public breeders are doingof knowledge is undertaking breeding programs thatand the advancements C have as little novelty as is possible, thusin plant breeding M ensuring they are not regulated as PNTs,technologiesY Smyth says. CM This raises questions of what adoption22 %rates these minimally novel varieties might MY have once approved and commercialized. experienced CY Will producers be willing to adopt newresearch CMY varieties that are only marginally betterproposals being turned down duethan existing ones?to PNT K While there is strong support foruncertaintyCanadas science-based regulatory frame-work, with 32 per cent expressing the belief34this provides a competitive advantage, con- %cerns arise when 27 per cent indicate theyended research conduct field trials outside of Canada towhen self-determination avoid the confined field trial requirementsindicated PNT that pertain to PNT varieties.status26GERMINATION.CAJANUARY 2021'