ISF Chief Urges Global Regulatory Alignment to Unlock the Potential of Gene-Edited Seeds

The International Seed Federation (ISF) is calling for a unified global regulatory framework for gene-edited seeds to prevent trade disruptions and accelerate agricultural innovation. By aligning standards across borders, the organization aims to ensure that farmers worldwide can access resilient, high-yielding crop varieties necessary to combat climate change and food insecurity.

ISF Secretary General Michael Keller emphasizes that a "patchwork" of conflicting national regulations currently hinders the movement of seeds and discourages investment in new genomic techniques. He argues that gene editing, which often results in changes that could occur naturally or through traditional breeding, should not be subjected to the same onerous restrictions as conventional GMOs. Instead, the ISF advocates for a science-based approach where products that do not contain foreign DNA are treated with the same regulatory simplicity as traditionally bred plants.

To achieve this "green map" of global alignment, the seed industry is pushing for greater international cooperation and transparency. Such a move would allow smaller companies and public research institutions to compete by lowering the cost of regulatory compliance. Ultimately, the ISF believes that harmonized rules will foster a more sustainable food system by allowing for the rapid deployment of crops that require fewer resources and are better adapted to an increasingly volatile environment.

For more details, read the article in AgTechNavigator.