Since 2021, several scientists have been developing new genetically edited rice varieties with targeted traits, such as resistance to disease \u2026.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) principal research officer Dr Zulkifli Ahmad Seman said they now had a potential gene-edited (GE) padi line currently undergoing the screening phase.<\/p>\n
He said their research so far had shown that blight would only affect 11% of the leaves of GE padi.<\/p>\n
Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other \u2018disruptive\u2019 innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.<\/p>\n
But the issue putting the research in limbo is whether current regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should apply to GE crops.<\/p>\n
Unlike GMOs, GE crops do not contain foreign DNA.<\/p>\n
Instead, they involve precise deletions or tweaks to existing genes \u2013 a process some researchers argue is closer to accelerated natural selection.<\/p>\n
As such, scientists and biotechnologists argue they cannot be judged according to the same standards.<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n
For Malaysia, the adoption of GE crops like Mardi\u2019s blight-resistant rice could play a crucial role in enhancing food security.<\/p>\n
However, without clear regulatory guidelines, these innovations may remain confined to research facilities.<\/p>\n