The final rule updating and modernizing USDA’s biotechnology regulations under the Plant Protection Act was approved this week.

The Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient (SECURE) rule will bring USDA’s plant biotechnology regulations into the 21st century by removing duplicative and antiquated processes in order to facilitate the development and availability of these technologies through a transparent, consistent, science-based, and risk-proportionate regulatory system. This new rule will help provide America’s farmers access to these critical tools to help increase agricultural productivity and sustainability, improve the nutritional value and quality of crops, combat pests and diseases, and enhance food safety.

American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President & CEO Andy LaVigne says plant breeding innovations like gene editing hold tremendous potential not just for American agriculture, but for the future of our environment and the entire food value chain.

“All of our nation’s agricultural producers deserve choice and access when it comes to the latest tools available to support the economic and environmental sustainability of their operations,” said LaVigne. “In order to foster an environment that supports continued innovation, it is critical that USDA works closely with FDA and EPA to ensure consistent, science-and risk-based policies across the U.S. Government, while continuing to take a leadership role in working towards alignment at the international level.”

LaVigne says ASTA is analyzing the full details of the SECURE rule, he did note that it acknowledges that some applications of gene editing result in the development of plant varieties that are essentially equivalent to varieties developed through more traditional breeding methods and would thus treat these varieties in the same way from a policy standpoint.