Key Developments in New Plant Breeding Technologies in 2024
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In 2024, significant progress in the development and regulation of new plant breeding technologies was seen worldwide. New gene-edited products received approvals, field trials of gene-edited crops were conducted, and various countries have put in place regulatory guidelines for new plant breeding technologies. This article presents some key developments in new plant breeding technologies in 2024.

Gene-edited products received approvals
Pairwise berries. Pairwise, a health-focused food and agriculture company, received confirmation of nine new regulatory exemptions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for gene-edited blackberries and black raspberries in January. The new nine exemptions bring the total number of Pairwise's confirmed trait exemptions for berries to 19, which include seedless, thornless, and higher-yielding traits in blackberry and black raspberry.
E3902 Camelina. In April, the Plant Biosafety Office of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency determined that Yield10 Bioscience's E3902 Camelina sativa (Camelina) is not a Plant with Novel Trait and is not subject to a pre-market notification under Part V of the Seeds Regulations. Yield10's E3902 Camelina combines genome edits in three proprietary genetic traits that increase oil production by five percent.
Wheat. China granted the first approval in May for a gene-edited wheat variety enhanced to resist disease. This marks a significant step forward for new breeding innovations in the country, as wheat is a staple ingredient in pasta, noodles, and bread.
Ultra-high protein soybeans. In May, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) granted Amfora, Inc. an exemption for its gene-edited, ultra-high protein soybeans. Amfora's gene-edited soybeans are not subject to the regulations in 7 CFR Part 340 and can be marketed without undergoing further review by the USDA. Amfora used a patented CRISPR gene editing process to increase the protein content of its soybeans, by upregulating the activity of a specific gene. The upregulated activity increases the protein level and decreases the carbohydrate level in the soybeans without introducing any foreign DNA.
High GABA tomatoes. In June, The Philippine Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) released a Certificate of Non-coverage from JDC No. 01 s.2021 for gene-edited high GABA Silician Rouge Tomato developed by Japan-based Sanatech Seed Co., LTD. High GABA tomato was first released by Sanatech in Japan in 2021. It was developed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to contain high levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid that helps lower blood pressure. The gene-edited tomato has four to five times more GABA than conventional tomato varieties.
Field trials of gene-edited crops
Genome-edited maize. In Belgium, VIB scientists applied for a new field trial of genome-edited maize in January. The field trial will look into the development and composition of plant cell walls and how they can be changed to optimize applications in the paper and pulp industry, bioenergy, but more so in the use of plants in animal feed.
Using CRISPR-Cas gene editing technique, changes were made in the genes involved in lignin production in maize. The result is that there is 20% less lignin in the cell wall, which is expected to improve the digestibility of maize, making it easier for the animals that consume this crop to absorb energy and nutrients.
Risotto rice. Researchers from the University of Milan have initiated the first field trial of gene-edited crops in Italy for a new rice variety named “RIS8imo,” a modified version of the Italian Arborio rice commonly used in risotto. Researchers targeted three genes exploited by the rice blast fungus and removed small parts of the DNA code to render them ineffective for the pathogen. Small fragments of DNA were removed from RIS8imo to enhance its resistance against the rice blast disease, a severe threat to cereal crops globally.
Launched in May, the field trial was destroyed by protestors in June.
Wheat and barley. The first gene-edited wheat and barley crop trials in Europe will be conducted on up to 25 conventional farms in the United Kingdom. The trials, also called PROBITY (Platform to Rate Organisms Bred for Improved Traits and Yield) are being organized by the British on-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN).

Country regulations for gene editing in agriculture
Uruguay. In a new decree presented on March 18, 2024, Uruguay's Ministries of Environment and Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries announced that they will work together in the analysis of the New Genetic Improvement Techniques applicable to products or organisms, linked to agriculture, aquaculture, or forestry production and their derived products.
Thailand. On July 22, 2024, Thailand's Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Captain Thamanat Prompow signed the groundbreaking legislation for genome-edited organisms. The new regulation, titled “Certification of Organisms Developed from Genome Editing Technology for Agricultural Use, B.E. 2567 (2024),” paves the way for the safe development and commercial use of genome-edited plants, animals, and microorganisms in agriculture and aims to position Thailand as a global leader in agricultural innovation, in line with countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia.
New Zealand. In August, New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) announced that revisions in their gene technology rules are being made to catch up with the advancements in science and technology, particularly gene editing.
In December, the Government issued the proposed Gene Technology Bill 2024 which is now going through the parliamentary process. The Bill includes several updates to the existing regulatory procedure implemented in the country. One of the salient features of the modernized regulatory framework is the formation of a dedicated gene technology regulator within the Environmental Protection Authority.
Updates on EU's Proposal on New Genomic Techniques
NGT Proposal. On January 24, 2024, the European Parliament's Environment Committee (ENVI) approved the Proposal on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). With 47 votes in favor to 31 against, and 4 abstentions, the approval marked a significant advancement in fostering plant breeding innovations in the region.
The MEPs agreed that NGT seeds must be labeled accordingly but that there would be no mandatory labeling at the consumer level for the NGT 1 products. They also voted to keep all NGTs out of organic production to prevent EU countries from banning them in their territory. The MEPs also voted to introduce a full ban on patents for NGTs “to avoid legal uncertainties, increased costs, and new dependencies for farmers and breeders”.
Belgium's health authority. In April, Belgium endorsed the European Commission's proposal to loosen rules on gene editing techniques, underscoring its potential to improve sustainability in agriculture. The Superior Health Council concluded that NGTs, which allow targeted and rapid modifications to the genome of plants, can contribute to a “climate-robust, sustainable agricultural production,” leading to higher yields
EC’s defense. The European Commission defended the scientific robustness of the new legislation on new genetic techniques for plants during a hearing before the European Parliament's Environment Committee on April 9, 2024, countering the critical remarks of the French food agency Anses.
EFSA. In October, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed that Category 1 NGT (new genomic techniques) plants present no additional hazards compared to those produced through conventional breeding. In a report presented to the European Union's Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (Envi Committee), EFSA concluded that genetic modifications in NGT plants align with those found in conventionally bred plants.
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