Precision Breeding Legislation for Plants Passed – What This Means for Agri-Tech 

The recent passing of secondary legislation to implement the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act for plants in England marks a milestone moment for UK agriculture. England is now aligned with countries like the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, and India, which have already approved gene-edited plant varieties such as high-GABA tomatoes, drought-tolerant rice, and herbicide-resistant soybeans.  

As GMO regulation is a devolved matter, legislative harmony across UK nations has not yet been achieved. Currently, this is an England only Act, meaning that it has provided a new category for precision bred organisms to be authorised in England. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, these organisms will remain classified as genetically modified organisms. 

The legislation unlocks a regulatory pathway for gene-edited crops to be developed and commercialised under a domestic framework. This distinguishes them from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and enables innovations that would have previously been stalled. This shift marks a significant step in the England’s agricultural policy, positioning it as a leader in precision breeding innovation. 

But what does this mean for the wider agri-tech sector? And where do livestock and aquaculture — also covered in the Precision Breeding Act — stand in comparison? 

A Step Forward for Plant Breeding 

This new legislation gives clarity and confidence to plant breeders working with traits that would traditionally be enhanced through traditional breeding, but now with more speed and precision through gene editing. We expect the initial wave of activity to focus on traits that improve: 

• Disease resistance 

• Climate resilience (e.g. drought or heat tolerance) 

• Nutritional value 

• Input efficiency (e.g. reduced fertiliser or pesticide use) 

For producers, it could mean access to varieties that are resilient to changing environmental conditions or that provide for consumer preferences — crucial in a sector under mounting pressure to deliver more with less. We’re also seeing development of cross-functional GE crops like high-lipid barley, which has been linked to reduced methane emissions in livestock.  

The Science Is Ready – But Is the System? 

We now have the scientific tools to introduce targeted, subtle genetic changes — changes that could have arisen naturally over time — with a precision unimaginable even a decade ago. In livestock, we’ve already seen examples like PRRS-resistant pigs or polled (hornless) cattle where gene editing can deliver clear welfare and production benefits. 

But having the tools is not the same as having a system ready to use them. For gene editing to fulfil its potential in either plants or animals, science must be backed by: 

• Aligned legislation and trade frameworks 

• Trust-building across the supply chain and with the public 

• Robust monitoring, decision-making, and governance systems 

England has taken a bold step forward with plants, but the needs of the wider system that have been outlined above — particularly in animals — still require development. The regulatory path for livestock is still incomplete, and international divergence (including within the UK) poses barriers for deployment and trade. 

What About Animals? 

While the Act also applies to livestock and aquaculture, no secondary legislation has yet been implemented for animals — and this creates both opportunity and uncertainty. 

As highlighted in the Harnessing Genetic Tools report developed by AbacusBio for the UK Agri-tech Centres and the Roslin Institute, animal gene editing has the potential to: 

• Eradicate or reduce major diseases (e.g. PRRS in pigs) 

• Improve animal welfare (e.g. hornless cattle, heat tolerance) 

• Accelerate genetic gain while maintaining the integrity of the animal 

However, the path to commercial use is less clear. Animal editing faces higher regulatory, ethical, and social hurdles, especially around welfare monitoring, ethics, environmental risk, and public acceptance. Cross-border trade challenges also remain a barrier. 

Shared Opportunities, Shared Challenges 

Whether in plants or animals, gene editing is not about “playing God” — it’s about accelerating changes that could happen naturally, but in a more targeted, predictable way. In both cases, the key considerations are similar: 

• Do we have clear breeding goals tied to sustainability and resilience? 

• Are systems in place for monitoring intended and unintended effects? 

• Can we align regulation, public trust, and commercial demand? 

The lessons from plant roll-out will be instructive. If well-governed and communicated, early plant successes could help pave the way for animal applications. 

What We’re Advising Clients 

At AbacusBio, we’re working closely with clients across the value chain — from breeders and producers to policy and research partners — to help them prepare. Our advice is: 

1. Start building capability now. Even if deployment is still down the road for animals, the foundations — genomic infrastructure, breeding goal refinement, and public engagement — are best laid early.
2. Think system-wide. Gene editing is one tool among many — it will be most powerful when combined with other technologies like genomic selection, Artificial Intelligence in breeding decisions, and sustainability benchmarking. 
3. Consider the long-term implication. It takes a substantial amount of R&D to get a precision breeding idea from concept to commercialisation. A robust and informative framework that assesses candidate gene edits for potential progression from research, proof of concept, integration into breeding and variety development programs, through to commercialisation is essential.
4. Stay engaged and vocal. The plant sector is showing what’s possible when policy moves. Animal sector voices — including from producers and scientists — will be essential to ensure the next phase of legislation reflects both opportunity and practicality. 

Looking Ahead 

The passage of secondary legislation for plants is cause for optimism. It shows that England is willing to lead with science, while also demanding responsible innovation. The challenge now is to extend that clarity and capability across the whole of agriculture — plant and animal alike — and ensure we harness the best of genetic technology for a more sustainable future.