65
Plants and animals derived from new breeding methods such as biotechnology and gene-editing should be assessed for potential health or safety
impacts, rather than for the processes used to produce the trait or product.
Without streamlined modern regulatory systems, innovation from small companies, public-private research partnerships and universities many not reach
farmers who need solutions. In the United States, the regulatory system for
biotechnology had not been revised since 1986 and required modernization to
address new breeding technology. In 2020, the USDA finalized new regulations
under the Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient
(SECURE) rule, providing new guidance for plant breeding innovation.
Plant breeding innovations like CRISPR-Cas will only be achieved through
improving and updating regulatory systems and active engagement and collaboration with farmers, academia, governments, NGOs, and public research
institutes, both in the United States and around the world.
A successful regulatory system establishes predictable, clear, science-based operating conditions for farmers and ranchers – particularly with regard to seeds, crop
protection, and animal health – as well as for mechanization companies, insurance
and finance firms, and food processing and retail industries, so that the overall agriculture sector can deliver value for people, the environment, and the national economy.
In today’s global competitive environment, regulatory systems are being called
upon to do even more, as consumers seek more information about production methods, nutritional content, labor practices, and sustainability of local, national, and
international food and agriculture systems. Transparency and traceability are growing in importance for developing consumer trust, while affordability and accessibility remains a paramount concern for many customers.
It is especially important that government regulatory systems help foster productivity and innovation while avoiding unnecessary costs, delays, and burdens to the
agriculture sector, ultimately impacting the ability to swiftly deliver quality products to consumers. Regulatory systems should have a sound legal and empirical
basis, minimize costs and market distortions, and promote innovation through intellectual property protection and market incentives. They must be clear and practical
for users and be compatible with domestic and international trade principles.
5
Smart
regulatory systems contribute to innovation and productivity when all the participants – government, industry, producers, scientific researchers, members of the
media, and consumers – responsibly engage in practice as well as understanding
about new opportunities that science and technology bring (Fig. 2.10).
Ideally, farmers practice good stewardship with innovation technology; input
providers, processors, and retailers work within regulatory frameworks; government consults with all relevant parties and establishes well-functioning, science5 https://www.oecd.org/fr/reformereg/34976533.pdf
(continued)
2 Productivity in Agriculture for a Sustainable Future
Plants and animals derived from new breeding methods such as biotechnology and gene-editing should be assessed for potential health or safety
impacts, rather than for the processes used to produce the trait or product.
Without streamlined modern regulatory systems, innovation from small companies, public-private research partnerships and universities many not reach
farmers who need solutions. In the United States, the regulatory system for
biotechnology had not been revised since 1986 and required modernization to
address new breeding technology. In 2020, the USDA finalized new regulations
under the Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient
(SECURE) rule, providing new guidance for plant breeding innovation.
Plant breeding innovations like CRISPR-Cas will only be achieved through
improving and updating regulatory systems and active engagement and collaboration with farmers, academia, governments, NGOs, and public research
institutes, both in the United States and around the world.
A successful regulatory system establishes predictable, clear, science-based operating conditions for farmers and ranchers – particularly with regard to seeds, crop
protection, and animal health – as well as for mechanization companies, insurance
and finance firms, and food processing and retail industries, so that the overall agriculture sector can deliver value for people, the environment, and the national economy.
In today’s global competitive environment, regulatory systems are being called
upon to do even more, as consumers seek more information about production methods, nutritional content, labor practices, and sustainability of local, national, and
international food and agriculture systems. Transparency and traceability are growing in importance for developing consumer trust, while affordability and accessibility remains a paramount concern for many customers.
It is especially important that government regulatory systems help foster productivity and innovation while avoiding unnecessary costs, delays, and burdens to the
agriculture sector, ultimately impacting the ability to swiftly deliver quality products to consumers. Regulatory systems should have a sound legal and empirical
basis, minimize costs and market distortions, and promote innovation through intellectual property protection and market incentives. They must be clear and practical
for users and be compatible with domestic and international trade principles.
5
Smart
regulatory systems contribute to innovation and productivity when all the participants – government, industry, producers, scientific researchers, members of the
media, and consumers – responsibly engage in practice as well as understanding
about new opportunities that science and technology bring (Fig. 2.10).
Ideally, farmers practice good stewardship with innovation technology; input
providers, processors, and retailers work within regulatory frameworks; government consults with all relevant parties and establishes well-functioning, science5 https://www.oecd.org/fr/reformereg/34976533.pdf
(continued)
2 Productivity in Agriculture for a Sustainable Future