Accelerating Agricultural R&D Transfer Enhances Global Food Security

Previous reports show that stringent regulatory processes and high research and development (R&D) costs cause approval lags and postponement in the adoption of gene editing. A study conducted by researchers from Wageningen University and Czech University of Life Sciences Prague explores the impacts of accelerating agricultural R&D transfer on global food security.

The study showed that advancing agricultural R&D transfer in high-income countries directly impacts their economic performance, welfare, input cost, nutrients, food affordability, and a spillover effect on middle and low-income countries. The researchers also found that China, India, other Asian countries, and Sub-Saharan African countries benefit the most from a homogenous 3-year increase in agricultural R&D transfer across all countries.

The results also showed that the EU will likely be the largest beneficiary of accelerated agricultural R&D transfer in high-income countries. The researchers recommend simplifying the gene editing approval process, which would benefit most countries around the world. They suggest streamlining the regulatory process for adopting gene editing to enhance global food security.

For more information, read the study from GM Crops & Food.