b'astating COVID-19 outbreak provided aseeking greater clarity and informationWe seek to move on from the stagnation of stark reminder that access to food is aon the new rules and regulations whichdysfunctional, highly politicised EU regu-basic human need.member businesses must comply with,lation towards a science-based framework It also highlighted the potential fra- and offering to work with Government tomore closely aligned with progressive gilities of our food system and the criticaldevelop practical and workable solutions toagricultural economies around the world role of British agriculture and its alliedprepare for those changes.whose scientists, plant breeders, farmers, industries in safeguarding the nationsAt the time of writing we appear noconsumers and environments are already food supply. further forward in resolving these uncer- benefiting from access to these more pre-Together, plant breeders, seed sup- tainties, and I am sure our plant breedingcise breeding tools. pliers and farmers provide the foundationand seed industry colleagues through- These are truly game-changing tech-of the crop production and processingout the EU will equally be urging theirnologies with the potential to help our chain. Our partnership feeds and sustainsrespective Governments to safeguard ourindustry respond to the urgent challenges the population.mutual interests in reaching a sensible,of food and nutrition security, climate Working under challenging condi- pragmatic deal which allows unfetteredchange and sustainable development. tions, BSPB members have kept essentialtrade in seed and breeding material toAs we chart our recovery from the operations going, not only to maintaincontinue post-Brexit.devastating COVID-19 crisis, ensuring we breeding programmes for the next gen- have access to the best available technol-eration of varieties, but also to safeguardGENE EDITING CONSULTATION ogies and can operate in a proportionate supplies of basic and pre-basic seed ofOne fact remains clear. Uncertainty overand enabling regulatory environment will current varieties as the seedstock forthe impact of Brexit on trade, competi- be even more critical than ever. certified seed production.tion and farm support, alongside the chal- I genuinely hope that EU leaders, As an industry we have a great deal tolenges of climate change and loss of cropthrough the European Commission study be proud of through the pandemic in main- protection products, mean that Britainsof the ECJ ruling initiated by Council of taining that vital lifeline to future harvests.farmers will need access to genetic inno- Ministers, will also heed the calls of sci-And throughout these difficult times,vation more than ever before. entists, plant breeders, farmers and food BSPB has also maintained essential sup- And the prospect of leaving the EUcompanies across Europe and take action port to members, ensuring the continuedis, at least in one area, opening up oppor- to put the EU on a more pro-innovation operation of our royalty collection andtunities to develop a more proportion- trajectory on this vital issue.variety testing systems, providing timelyate and enabling environment for plant information and advice to the sector, andbreeding innovation.LOOKING AHEADworking with Government and our indus- Through the cross-industry groupWorking under extremely challenging cir-try partners to prepare the ground for aCropIN, and as a core stakeholder of thecumstances, BSPB is doing all it can to more enabling regulatory environmentAll-Party Parliamentary Group on Sciencesupport future plant breeding innovation for future plant breeding innovation inand Technology in Agriculture, BSPBand innovation in the UK. the UK.has been active in persuading the UKWe are very fortunate to have such a Governmentthrough a proposed amend- fantastic executive team at Ely. The col-BREXIT ment to the Agriculture Billto consultlective knowledge, expertise and dedica-The lack of clarity over the terms of ouron early action post-Brexit to set-aside thetion of BSPB staff help ensure that our future relationship with the EU post- problematic ECJ ruling of July 2018 whichindustry is not only supported by highly Brexit, indeed whether a trade deal withclassified all newer forms of mutagenesis,efficient IP and variety testing systems, the EU will be reached at all, remains aincluding gene editing, as GM.but also that the Society is well-placed major challenge for our sector so close toThanks to widespread support forto adapt and innovate in response to the the end of the transition period.this move from cross-party politicians, sci- challenges and opportunities ahead. BSPB has continued to work closelyentists, plant breeders, farmers, food pro- In my second article for European with government officials and with indus- cessors and the international developmentSeed, I will set out BSPBs strategic vision try partners to keep members informedcommunity, the government has agreedfor the futurefrom the integration of of the technical advice they need to planto consult this autumn on a proposednew breeding technologies and IP reforms ahead, and until some clarity emergeslegislative change such that gene editedthrough to transforming the way we com-from the ongoing trade talks we mustorganisms whose DNA changes could havemunicate our industrys contribution to continue to hope for the best but prepareoccurred naturally or through traditionalsocietys changing demands and expecta-for the worst. breeding methods should be out of thetions.Major areas of uncertainty remain,scope of existing GMO regulations.for example in relation to reciprocal rec- This would re-focus future GM regula- EditorsNote:Samantha(Sam) ognition of seed marketing and phytosan- tion on transgenic products incorporatingBrooke took over as chief executive of itary arrangements, as well as tariffs, andforeign DNA. Published data suggests thatthe British Society of Plant Breeders given the current volume of trade in seedthis would at a stroke remove some 90% of(BSPB) in July 2020. A sales and mar-and transboundary movement of breed- current gene editing applications from theketing professional with more than 17 ing material between the UK and EUscope of GM regulations, and it would alignyears commercial experience within there is a rapidly diminishing amount ofour rules with the regulatory stance ofthe UK and European plant breeding time for businesses to prepare. other non-EU countries such as Australia,and seeds industry, Sam joined BSPB The Agri-Supply Coalition, of whichBrazil, Argentina, the U.S. and Japan.from Syngenta UK, where she was BSPB is a founding member, recently wroteThrough this initiative, Britains plantHead of Seed and Seed Treatment Sales to Environment Secretary George Eusticebreeding industry is on the cusp of poten- for UK and Ireland, having previously to highlight these concerns on behalf oftially the most significant breakthrough inheld seed production and sales posi-the UK agricultural input supply sectors,genetic innovation in more than 20 years.tions with both Monsanto and RAGT. EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEAN SEED I 25'