Biotech vs regulation: striking the right balance
Are regulatory hurdles holding back biotechnology tools at the fingertips of famers?
Plant breeding innovation like gene editing has the potential to revolutionise the agriculture industry - by not only enhancing crop yields, but supporting sustainable farming practices, and helping address global climate change and food security.
Strict regulatory frameworks in Australia aim to address the associated risks and ethical considerations of new biotech advancements.
The rigorous approval process means genetically modified plant breeds typically take up to 16 years to reach market, costing around $100million in research and regulatory costs.
“As a result of activist activity and policy stagnation, they haven't brought in all the innovation that they can to help growers out. And that's really frustrating,” molecular biologist Michael Leader says.
Michael’s job with Bayer is an interesting one - he's the bridge connecting the science labs with the regulators; translating complex new biotech innovation for policy makers to make informed decisions.
“We need people translating what the researchers are finding and when we decide we want to commercialise it, into packages of data and safety assessments that a regulator is going to feel comfortable assessing.
“We've got thousands of people working on that globally.”
Michael Leader is the Regulatory Policy & Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the Asia region, for Bayer Crop Science Australia.
Hear more from Michael’s chat with Oli below.
This is a sponsored series in partnership with Bayer Crop Science Australia, showcasing Bayer's commitment to innovation; supporting Aussie agriculture and backing rural communities.
