RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 159
xGene editing
These concerns stem mainly from a lack of knowl-
Gene editing, a revolutionary genetic technology
edge about gene editing and the unclear differ-
for studying and modifying genetics, is discovered
ence with GMOs. The EU is expected to adopt a
in 2013. Gene editing techniques such as
new position on gene editing in 2024 and provide
CRISPR-Cas make it much easier to specifically
greater clarity about whether or not new genomic
analyse or modify the function of a gene.
techniques such as CRISPR-Cas are covered by
CRISPR-Cas can best be compared to a pair of
GMO legislation.
20
23
Farmin RZ
Romaine
lettuce
First lettuce
with resistance
against INSV.
scissors that can be used to ‘cut’ a plant’s DNA at
a specific location. Using this technique, one can,
Big data at Rijk Zwaan
for example, cut the piece of DNA that causes
Due to the technological innovations of the past
brown discolouration in an apple. Modifying traits
few decades, Rijk Zwaan is having to handle more
in plants is something that traditional breeding
data than ever before. In 2017, the amount of
techniques can only achieve by cross-breeding
data generated every week is more than all the
genes from varieties with that particular trait or
data generated between 1924 and 2012. With the
by detecting mutations of genes that may or may
increasing amounts of data and the increasing
not occur spontaneously. With gene editing, on the
use of automated analytics, the importance of
other hand, a mutation can be created in a gene in
bioinformatics (collecting and accessing large
a highly targeted way. This can significantly accel-
sequence datasets for research and for building
erate the development of improved plant varieties.
and maintaining analytics software) and IT (facili-
Incidentally, gene editing is currently subject to
tating data storage and laying the foundation for
very strict GMO legislation in the EU with
the entire business to make the best use of the
complicated authorisation procedures.
capabilities of sensors, robots and drones, among
others) is also increasing enormously. As a result,
these disciplines are growing rapidly, and more
and more specialised functions aimed at handling
large amounts of data are emerging.
Gene editing;
a continuing discussion
2022-2023
This is not the end of the discussion about gene
editing. Proponents of gene editing stress that
at its base, gene editing does not use foreign
DNA, but it does greatly speed up the process
of breeding. Moreover, they – including Rijk
Zwaan – are concerned about the uneven playing
field created by current European legislation,
which is very different from the legislation in
South America, the US, Canada and Japan, for
example. In those countries it is permitted to use
this technology for breeding. Yet there are also
many detractors. Consumers in particular are
concerned about (food) safety.
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