Precision Breeding Act Opens Door for UK Hemp Innovation

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 represents one of the most significant regulatory developments for UK agriculture in a generation. By creating a proportionate, science-based pathway for precision-bred organisms—distinct from the lengthy GMO authorisation process—the Act enables companies like Precision Plants to bring improved crop varieties to market faster, supporting food security, environmental sustainability, and farmer profitability.

The Precision Breeding Act

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 was introduced to address a fundamental regulatory anomaly: under the previous EU-derived framework, precision-bred organisms—which contain only genetic changes that could occur naturally or through conventional breeding—were regulated identically to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) containing foreign DNA. This meant that a crop variety developed through CRISPR gene editing, making a single-nucleotide change identical to one found in wild relatives, faced the same multi-year, multi-million-pound approval process as a transgenic organism.

The Act corrects this by establishing a separate, proportionate regulatory category for precision-bred organisms (PBOs). As defined in the legislation, a PBO is an organism whose genome contains only changes that "could have occurred naturally or been achieved through traditional breeding methods." This scientific distinction is the foundation of the new framework and has been endorsed by the Royal Society, the John Innes Centre, and leading plant science institutions worldwide.

What Changed

The shift from a process-based to a product-based regulatory approach is the most significant change. Under the previous framework, a crop was regulated based on how it was developed (i.e., whether gene editing technology was used). Under the new framework, regulation is based on what the final product contains—specifically, whether the genetic changes could have occurred naturally. This aligns UK regulation with the scientific consensus that precision-bred organisms pose no greater risk than conventionally bred varieties.

The New Regulatory Framework

The implementing regulations, which came into force on 13 November 2025, establish a detailed two-tier approval system administered by the Food Standards Agency. According to the FSA's application guidance, the tiered approach ensures that the level of regulatory scrutiny is proportionate to the nature and complexity of the genetic modifications.

Both tiers require applicants to demonstrate that the organism qualifies as precision-bred—meaning all genetic changes could have occurred through natural processes or conventional breeding. The FSA maintains a public register of all approved precision-bred food and feed products, ensuring transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain.

Implications for Hemp

For hemp specifically, the Precision Breeding Act is transformative. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has enormous genetic diversity but has been historically constrained by regulatory limitations on THC content (currently 0.2% in the UK) and the lack of modern breeding tools adapted to this crop. Precision breeding enables targeted improvements to hemp varieties that would take decades to achieve through conventional methods.

The Act is particularly significant for hemp because the crop has received relatively little investment in modern breeding compared to major cereals. While wheat, barley, and oilseed rape have benefited from decades of intensive breeding programmes, hemp varieties available to UK farmers are often derived from European cultivars not optimised for British conditions. Precision breeding enables rapid improvement of hemp varieties specifically for UK agriculture—exactly what Precision Plants is doing through our Stackatrait™ platform, combining multiple precision trait modifications per variety across five categories including Cannabinoid Modification, Seed Yield & Oil, Fibre Quality, Root & Carbon Sequestration, and Climate Resilience.

Stackatrait™ and the Act

Precision Plants' Stackatrait™ technology is designed to work within the Precision Breeding Act framework. Our approach uses CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to make targeted modifications to hemp's existing genome—changes that are equivalent to those that could occur through natural mutation or conventional breeding, but achieved with precision and speed.

The "stacking" approach—combining multiple beneficial traits in a single variety—is particularly well-suited to the tiered regulatory system. Individual trait modifications can be assessed independently, with well-characterised changes potentially qualifying for the faster Tier 1 pathway. This enables an iterative development approach where varieties are progressively improved with additional traits, each assessed through the appropriate regulatory tier.

Our current variety portfolio—including BritGrain Auto™ (grain), LongLine Fibre™ (fibre), and YieldMax Duo™ (dual-purpose)—is being developed using precision breeding techniques that align with the Act's requirements. The £912,259 DEFRA funding we received specifically supports this regulatory-compliant development pathway.

UK in Global Context

The Precision Breeding Act positions the UK alongside other major agricultural nations that have adopted science-based regulatory approaches to precision-bred organisms. This global alignment is critical for trade, research collaboration, and attracting investment in agricultural biotechnology.

Notably, the European Union continues to regulate precision-bred organisms under its restrictive GMO framework, though reform proposals are under discussion. The UK's post-Brexit regulatory independence has enabled a faster, more science-based approach. This creates a competitive advantage for UK-based agricultural biotechnology companies, including Precision Plants, which can develop and commercialise precision-bred varieties more quickly than EU-based competitors.

Implementation Timeline

Impact on UK Farmers

For UK farmers, the Precision Breeding Act opens access to improved crop varieties that are better adapted to British growing conditions, more resilient to climate variability, and more productive per hectare. This is particularly important for crops like hemp, where farmers currently rely on varieties not optimised for UK conditions.

The Act also creates new diversification opportunities. As precision breeding makes it commercially viable to develop varieties for niche and emerging markets—such as hemp for construction materials, textiles, and high-value food ingredients—farmers gain access to new income streams and premium markets. Visit our For Farmers page to explore hemp cultivation opportunities, or learn about the UK hemp industry's projected 300% growth.