The UK’s first gene-edited crop trials (wheat and barley) on conventional farms are set to begin, marking a significant step in agricultural innovation. This trial is Europe’s first of its kind, focusing on testing experimental gene-edited crops in real-world conditions to evaluate their potential benefits for farmers and food production.
The trials will explore how these gene-edited traits perform under various environmental conditions and how they impact farming operations. Feedback from farmers will be crucial, providing insight into the practicality and benefits of growing gene-edited crops. Additionally, the trials aim to secure enough grain for testing in food production systems.
The project, named PROBITY (Platform to Rate Organisms Bred for Improved Traits and Yield), is being organised by the British on-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) in collaboration with leading research institutions, including Rothamsted Research, the John Innes Centre, the University of Nottingham, and Aberystwyth University. Up to 25 farms could participate in these trials, allowing a wide range of conditions to be assessed.
Rothamsted Research’s Professor Nigel Halford commented on the project, stating, “This is an exciting development, but expectations for the commercial availability of gene-edited crops should be tempered. It could take several years before these foods become widely accessible, especially with the Precision Breeding Act’s secondary legislation still in progress.” This Act is expected to be introduced to Parliament later this year, setting the stage for wider use of gene-edited crops in the UK.
Two gene-edited crops developed at Rothamsted Research are being trialled on UK farms. One is a barley variety with an increased lipid content in its leaves, which could help reduce methane emissions when fed to cattle. While barley typically contains around 2% lipids in its dry weight, the gene-edited version aims to raise this to approximately 4%. This trait could provide a more environmentally friendly feed option for the agricultural industry.
Professor Peter Eastmond, the lead scientist behind this barley variety, said, “On-farm trials are essential to see how the changes made to the crop’s genome impact its performance in the field. These trials will help us understand how the crop withstands different weather conditions, soil types, and potential pests and diseases.”
The second gene-edited crop is a wheat variety engineered to reduce asparagine levels, an amino acid that can form acrylamide when cooked. Acrylamide is a potential carcinogen, and food manufacturers are keen to reduce its presence in wheat products, especially with new European Union regulations on the horizon. Lowering asparagine levels in wheat could help manufacturers comply with these regulations while maintaining product quality.
Meanwhile, Ireland is also exploring the benefits of gene editing for crops. Barry O’Reilly, head of crop policy at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), recently spoke about the potential of gene editing during the 2024 Irish Seed Trade Organisation (ISTA) open day in Cork. He emphasised the importance of making high-quality seeds available to farmers and noted that forthcoming EU legislation could accelerate the development of new plant varieties through gene editing and other genomic techniques.
The UK’s move towards gene-edited crop trials represents a critical moment in agricultural development, potentially opening new doors for more sustainable and efficient farming practices.
