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Published in , the focused review was conducted by researchers Dr Emily Buddle, Michail Ivanov and Professor Rachel Ankeny. It outlines how regulation plays a vital role in the innovation process by encouraging public involvement and building trust in emerging gene technologies.

鈥淩egulatory decisions are not just about scientific facts or economic benefits. They always involve value judgements, especially concerning safety, risk and societal benefits,鈥� Dr Buddle explains.

鈥淧lant scientists need to engage with diverse groups of people early and often throughout the innovation process to understand their concerns about new technologies. This engagement is a mutual learning process, not just a formality, as no single group has the expertise and capacity to shape regulation in isolation.鈥�

Dr Buddle notes that while forms of gene-editing can make the same changes that could happen naturally in agriculture 鈥� a concept known as 鈥渟cientific equivalency鈥� 鈥� this does not translate to public acceptance.

鈥淲hat truly matters to the public is how the gene technology will be applied and what its perceived benefits are, rather than just whether it is gene edited or genetically modified,鈥� she says.

鈥淔or example, our previous research has shown that people might be more accepting of gene editing that improves the crop鈥檚 tolerance to drought rather than altering the nutritional qualities of the grain.鈥�

Gene editing is an emerging technology in agriculture and is increasingly being used to help crops better withstand environmental stressors such as drought and salinity. While no gene edited plants are currently in commercial production in Australia, the development of new breeding technologies has reignited long-standing global debate over how these technologies should be regulated.

Regulation refers to the laws, policies, licences and guidelines that govern how people and organisations can use gene technology, where penalties apply if these rules are not followed. There is limited consistency around the world in how gene editing is regulated.

In Australia, gene technology, including genetically modified and gene edited crops, is regulated by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR). Under the Gene Technology Act 2000 (Commonwealth), gene edited crops were originally treated the same as genetically modified organisms.

However, amendments made in 2019 mean organisms modified using SDN-1 techniques 鈥� which involve making small, targeted changes to DNA without adding any foreign genetic material 鈥� are generally not regulated under the Act, as these changes are considered similar to those that could occur naturally or through traditional breeding.

Ivanov says the review challenges some common criticisms in crop sciences.

鈥淚n our research experience, we often hear scientists working in agricultural genomics talk about regulation as problematic, emphasising that regulation is a 鈥榖ottleneck鈥� or a 鈥榟urdle鈥� that limits research and innovation in crop sciences,鈥� Ivanov says.

鈥淗owever, we argue that calling regulation a 鈥榖ottleneck鈥� depends on your perspective and what your goals are.

鈥淲e contend that regulation is actually an important part of the innovation process as it allows regulators and diverse publics to get involved in the research and assess whether a new technology is truly needed, desirable and beneficial outside of the lab or field.

鈥淚nstead of being a bottleneck, regulation can be seen as a filter as it helps remove elements of science and innovation that could cause problems or harms to society or the environment, making sure that new technologies align with societal expectations and values before they are widely used.鈥�