It needs to avoid the treatment GMOs have suffered with.Ottawa—Genetic editing has the potential to bring many positive changes to food production but Canada needs to keep the regulations for it in line with major trading partners, says Farm Credit Canada.Genetic editing allows for changes in plants and animals without any foreign genetic material inserted into their DNA, FCC says. “It's also much more inexpensive than transgenic processes and can be done without complicated or expensive lab equipment.”While genetic editing been around for a decade, its acceptance is nowhere near what it could be and that is largely due to fears about the technology.Everyone has heard about all the fears about genetically modified plants (GMOs) and “despite obvious benefits over 20 years of use, a vocal minority still question their use,” FCC says “It remains to be seen how consumers will view genetically edited crops and livestock, but it may be an easier sell this time as there are more direct and impactful benefits to consumers.”Given the GMO experience, it should be no surprise that there are differing views on how gene editing technology should be regulated for agriculture, which could affect how quickly it is introduced, FCC says.Canada's current approach is that gene-edited crops should face the same approval process as GMOs while the U.S. has adopted a less rigorous approach and views gene-edited organisms as similar to traditionally bred ones, with faster results.“We know that disparities in regulatory and approval processes can cause issues for trade, so monitoring how genetic editing of crops and livestock are viewed by our trading partners is important going forward,” FCC says. “The rapid advances in gene editing will force all countries to continue to re-evaluate their regulatory approach.”There are dozens of gene-editing developments close to release, many of which have received little attention. They include dairy cows that produce mainly female or beef cows that produce mainly male progeny, pigs less susceptible to respiratory disease, chickens impervious to avian leucosis virus, wheat with no gluten or only celiac-friendly gluten, corn hybrids that yield higher waxy corn, canola with improved shatter resistance and potatoes modified to be healthier when fried.Gene editing may also yield major human health benefits including treatment for sickle cell and other blood diseases, disease diagnosis and dealing with diseases like Huntington's and progeria (accelerated aging) in children. It may also enable the eradication of pest insects and invasive animal species.“If you spend any time investigating the potential of CRISPR and gene editing for human health and agriculture, you start to get the impression almost anything is possible. That's the promise and the challenge,” FCC said.For more information on developments, follow the Global Gene Editing Regulation Tracker at https://crispr-gene-editing-regs-tracker.geneticliteracyproject.org/