The United Kingdom has granted regulatory approval for the commercial farming of gene-edited wheat, developed to resist fungal infections and reduce post-harvest losses. This is the first such approval since the UK left the EU, giving it greater regulatory freedom.
The wheat was developed by scientists at Rothamsted Research and has shown significant promise in trials. It’s expected to reduce pesticide use and lower food prices over time.
The approval is likely to influence agricultural policy debates in South Asia, where similar gene-editing technologies are in early testing stages but face regulatory hurdles.
