Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52EUROPEAN-SEED.COM I EUROPEAN SEED I 39 these third party service providers and their personnel being engaged by the association for many years. NEW BREEDING TECHNIQUES Since the beginning of commercial plant breeding early last century, Swedish plant breeders have always been inquis- itive of new scientific discoveries and were early to apply these in their breed- ing programs. As an example, cereal breeding efforts moved very early on from mass selection to pedigree breed- ing and individual plant selection, compared with other European plant breeding efforts. In the sugar beet breeding pro- grams, Hilleshög AB was early to introduce hybrid breeding as well as monogerm seed traits in their pro- grams. The result was that Hilleshög AB breeders managed to develop strong and competitive varieties for the main part of Europe, whereby the com- pany has been a leading competitor in these markets for long periods of time. When biotechnology and GM-traits were introduced as tools in plant breeding, Svalöf AB was early to initi- ate a project to modify the starch com- position in potatoes. This program was later acquired by BASF Plant Science and eventually produced the potato ‘Amflora’, a variety that produced pure amylopectin starch. Amflora was entered for commercial approval in EU but later withdrawn by the company due to the political turmoil linked to GMO and biotechnology in Europe. DISCOVERY OF CRISPR-CAS9 The new tools in the plant breeders’ tool- box are both developed and utilised by Swedish scientists and breeders. Several of the new genome editing tools are based on induced mutations with very high precision for specific sites in the genome. One of the currently most-used of these genome editing methods is called CRISPR/Cas9. This method is composed of several components that together have the ability to identify exactly the desired site in the genome where the enzyme Cas9 cuts the DNA-string. This enzyme was identified as a component in the immune system of a bacteria species against virus infections. A research group at the University of Umeå, Sweden, discovered the Cas9 in 2009 and this research breakthrough is now utilised as an important step to make precision changes in the genome with- out adding DNA from foreign sources. The CRISPR/Cas9 approach is today an important tool, both in medicine and plant research and development. At the Swedish A gricu ltural University, a group of researchers has used the CRISPR/Cas9 method on pota- toes to edit the genes for starch produc- tion and has now developed a potato variety producing only the amylopectin type of starch. This variety will have the same properties as the variety Amflora, but this new variety contains no added DNA from other species in its genome. The first field test with this potato is planned to be planted in the spring of 2017 in Sweden. STAYING UP-TO-DATE Swedish researchers and plant breeders are utilising the latest findings in applied research with the aim of developing new and viable products as fast as possible. To keep up with the development of new plant breeding tools, competent author- ities granting approval for testing new products under field conditions have to be up-to-speed with the knowledge and understanding of the new tools and valu- able crop traits. The responsible authority in Sweden has been involved over a long period of time with evaluation and approvals of field tests of several new traits, devel- oped both with GM techniques as well as with the new breeding tools. The deep and detailed knowledge the authority has acquired over the years has given them a very solid knowledge base whereby they can evaluate and grant permissions for field trials. SVUF has regular dialogues and discussions with the competent authority as well as with responsible persons at the ministry level regarding the ongoing discussions on new breeding techniques at the European level. Key issues have been raised concerning the legal framework and approval process for new and improved varieties bred and developed with aid of new breeding tools — and if specific regulations would be required for these products. Suggestions have been put forward that the use of new breeding tools should de-regulated in the same way as a GM trait. Swedish authorities have made statements and expressed positive signals of approval towards several of the new tools in the plant breeders ‘toolbox’. Swedish author- ities have also expressed the opinion that if a new variety is developed with the aid of the new genome editing tools and the final product contains no added DNA from other species, then this product should not be regulated as a GMO under the European GM-regulation (2001/18/EG). The Swedish Seed Trade Association is trying to have an open discussion and dialog with as many parties as possible with the aim to pave the way for as many methods and plant breeding approaches as possible. The overall goal for SVUF is to do the utmost to secure and maintain a viable arable production also in the outer/ northern regions of Europe for farmers, which in turn also will be to the benefit of the seed industry as a whole. Plant breeding includes a lot of work by hand. (Photo Lantmännen)