Regulatory hurdles for agriculture GMOs

摘要

We have been engaged for decades in genetic engineering and genome editing of organisms of agricultural importance. However, research on food organisms is suffering because of a failure of regulatory agencies. Since the first introduction of genetically modified germlines of animals in 1981 (1-3), and plants 2 years later (4), U.S. regulators have failed to approve a single genetically modified animal of agricultural importance (5), and most new crop varieties do not make it through governmental review (6). This reluctance to approve new products is not based on scientifically sound analysis. Rather, it is largely due to pandering by officials to various pressure groups and politicians.