Regulating a Better Tomato

China’s push to lead the world in genome editing is partially about need: Feeding 1.4 billion people is easier with drought resistant CRISPR-engineered crops that yield more food.
 
While investing billions in biotech, China hasn’t yet spelled out commercial regulation and may be watching other entities for guidance. Europe classifies CRISPR-engineered food under “genetically modified organisms” with strict controls but the US does not as long as there’s no interspecies DNA mixing.
 
In China’s labs, however, CRISPR research churns along. Plant scientist Gao Caixia says once regulation is inked, her lab could have plants in the ground within 6 months.
 
Science