Switzerland's Agroscope conducts a secret CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited barley trial despite GM plant ban.
Switzerland's Agroscope research body is conducting a secret field trial using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing on genetically engineered barley, despite a ban on commercial cultivation of genetically modified plants. The trial, at a protected site in Zurich-Reckenholz, uses gene editing techniques that don't contain transgenes, avoiding classification as genetically modified organisms. The Swiss government is considering a risk-based approval system for CRISPR-developed crops that don't contain foreign genes and provide agricultural, environmental, and consumer benefits.
August 09, 2024
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