The regulatory current status of plant breeding technologies in some Latin American and the Caribbean countries

Abstract

Precision biotechnologies have appeared on the horizon resulting in a plethora of possibilities to modify the genome of different organisms with relatively easy application, low cost, and high precision. These technologies make it possible to work with a very simple biological system and have great potential for medicine, and agriculture. Latin American is embracing the technology and researchers are already developing tropical products from its use. The following article explains the operation of these technologies, and some considerations about its regulation among counties in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Survey results demonstrated that seven countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, and Paraguay) have a clearly defined and operational legal framework for new breeding technologies. Nevertheless, the majority of countries in the region have no experience regarding these technologies and lack legal clarity. Therefore, these countries require regulatory clarity to legally differentiate those products of gene editing that are comparable to conventional breeding and those that can be legally defined as a genetically modified organism. New precision biotechnologies could introduce advantageous traits for the improvement of crops, which could be available for the consumers in Latin America and the Caribbean region very soon. Nevertheless, governments should consider the regulatory framework of genome editing technologies and establish appropriate regulations, if necessary, without representing an obstacle to the commercialization of products derived from them.