Ontario Grain Farmer December 2023 / January 2024

“Ontario farmers are always concerned at the decisions being made around the world on our ability to grow crops to export and feed a growing population."

the "criteria for equivalence of NGT plants to conventional plants." According to the published report, "a(n) NGT plant is considered equivalent to conventional plants when it differs from the recipient/ parental plant by no more than 20 genetic modifications". If there are more than 20 modifications, it is placed in a different category and assessed more like a transgenic plant — a genetically modified organism (GMO).

verification process. More complex gene-edited plants will follow a year-long process that includes some of the EU's requirements for GMOs.

Many of the gene-edited plants being developed now will fall into the shorter "conventional-like" category, yet Thomas believes there is a need for some caution. Where Canada's approach is "future-proof," the EU's is very specific as to the methods included. "The EU has made strides forward, but we still have concerns, like the predictability of the time frames in the future," she says. "We don't know if there could be unforeseen delays when gene-edited plants are under review in the EU." l

Yet, according to Pierre Petelle, there may be a silver lining to the proposed guidelines.

"Speaking to European grower groups, they're quite encouraged by this because many of them expected a full rejection like with GMOs," says Petelle, president and chief executive officer of CropLife Canada. "(Activists) were trying to catch these as 'the new GMOs,' and they pushed European governments to treat them the same as GMOs, and it looks like they've failed on that ideological approach." In the meantime, more than a dozen governments have published clear guidelines on how they are going to deal with these new breeding techniques, wondering if this will push the technology forward. Petelle believes Canada "got it right" 30 years ago with its legislation that said it is not about the technique; it is about the product that is created using the technique, better known as a novel trait. "It doesn't matter if you did that through traditional plant breeding, mutagenesis, gene-altering, or GMO," he adds. "We're more interested in the change you made. Is it significant enough? Does it affect your nutritional quality? Focus on the product. That has served us well because it shouldn't matter whether you use traditional breeding or other techniques. It's about product, and that's what's encouraging about the proposed EU approach." When the consultation period is complete and the final guidance is published, Canada will probably have the best model for predictability and clarity on how or what triggers a full review versus a partial or no review, compared to other jurisdictions in the world. WHY IT MATTERS Canada sells grain to more than 100 countries, so the way our trading partners regulate gene-edited plants matters. Tough rules in the EU, for example, could make it difficult for Ontario farmers to grow the most cutting-edge varieties and hybrids due to the risk of a trade disruption. "The EU's NGT legislation is a big improvement over its approach to GMOs, which can linger under review for 10 years or more," says Krista Thomas, vice president of trade policy and seed innovation for Canada Grains Council. "Fortunately, this legislation confirms that gene-edited plants are not considered to be GMOs in the EU."

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In fact, the new NGT legislation indicates that "conventional-like" gene-edited plants can be approved in just a few months following a

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DECEMBER 2023 / JANUARY 2024

ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER