b'The Genome Editing DivideWhen it comes to innovation, the panel didnt dodge the elephant in the room: genome editing. Hafemeister stressed USDAs role in making sure global regulatory Sometimes it takes a little frameworks stay science-based and interoperable.Were spending a lot of time monitoring how countries policy sugar to get through the are writing their gene editing policies, he says. We need a predictable systemnot just to sell these products, but to thicket of bureaucracy.develop them in the first place.Jason Hafemeister Vanderloo frames it as a moral imperative. The goal is to put food on tablesespecially in a changing climate. We have to equip producers with what they need to succeed.Vazquez Ochoa acknowledges Mexicos internal rift, saying there are two camps. One supports innovation. The other sees white corn as cultural identitynot just food.The tension isnt going away soon, he says.Vanderloo, who says he doesnt have an agriculture back- A Call for Calmand Actionground, now sees its value firsthand. With the 2026 USMCA review looming, the panel closed Theres so much that goes into creating a single seedon a note of cautious hope.varietyyears of effort, resources, brainpower, he says.We need everything to settle down, Vazquez Ochoa Especially in a climate like ours, where variability is thesays. We need the space to return to cooperationto only constant, you cant deliver yield without that upstreamshared prosperity.innovation. Canada is moving toward UPOV 91+ and weVanderloo urges action. This agreement has delivered. know it matters. Lets make sure it stays fit for purpose. But we need your Vazquez Ochoa, representing a developing countrysvoicesyour elected officials need to hear from you.view, was honest about the challenges: Our institutions areHafemeister keeps it grounded.under-resourced. We dont have the enforcement strengthA lot of whats driving trade today isnt ag. But ag still the U.S. has. But we believe in IP. Its criticaland werecarries the load. Were the foundation. And weve got to trying to build that capacity. keep showing up.SW14/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2025'