Tropic Biosciences has joined the leadership team of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) Coalition for Responsible Gene Editing in Agriculture, a group of leaders in food, agriculture and science collaborating around the vision of global acceptance and support for the responsible use of gene editing technology in agriculture and food.
Based in the United Kingdom, Tropic Biosciences uses gene editing technologies to develop high-performing commercial varieties of tropical crops that promote cultivation efficiencies, enhance consumer health and improve sustainable environmental practices.
“We’re excited to welcome Tropic Biosciences and its global perspective as we work to gain public trust in a technology that can help those in agriculture solve pressing challenges,” said Charlie Arnot, CFI CEO. “The success of gene editing hinges on public support. It’s imperative that those researching and using gene editing participate in an open, public dialogue about the shared benefits of gene editing and their commitment to responsible use.”
“The Coalition is an opportunity for us to collaborate with other thought leaders who are working to build trust in gene editing so it can reach its potential ,” said Gilad Gershon, CEO of Tropic Biosciences. “By 2040, the population of tropical nations will increase by over a billion people, requiring innovation in agricultural production to meet nutritional demands and to support the sustainable development of growing local communities. Ensuring engagement with key stakeholders is critical to driving this innovation.”
Other members of the coalition include American Seed Trade Association, BASF, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Corteva Agriscience, Costco, Genus, National Pork and Pivot Bio. Advisors to the coalition are the Center for Science in the Public Interest, FMI – The Food Industry Association, The Nature Conservancy and USDA.
The mission of the coalition, which was established in 2016, is twofold: to develop effective, research-based communication practices for effectively engaging in a broader discussion of gene editing with various stakeholders and to create a framework for responsible use of gene editing to build trust in researchers, developers and end users of the technology.
After a nearly two-year development process and robust stakeholder feedback process, the coalition has developed a Responsible Use framework, a set of commitments and recommended best practices that demonstrate an organization’s commitment to using gene editing responsibly. The framework includes independent third-party verification of conformance with the framework. The framework is now being shared with interested stakeholders to solicit support and continue the process for implementation.
In addition, the coalition has created a communication guide, “Gene Editing: Engage in the Conversation,” to help support an informed dialogue on gene editing in food and agriculture. It includes five specific approaches to trust-earning engagement. To develop the guide, the Coalition collaborated with universities, associations and others who have conducted research on consumer understanding and attitudes about gene editing. Common threads from this research, along with previous learnings about biotechnology acceptance, provide the foundation for the material.
The guide is available for download free of charge. CFI also provides workshops and other support for those wishing to more effectively engage with the public in a discussion about gene editing in food production.