News: Chile Proposes Resolution to Evaluate New Breeding Techniques in Crops.

Published 6AM EST, Fri Jan 30, 2026 Mandatory and required before any field use, the case-by-case assessment determines whether a development should be treated as conventional or whether existing GMO regulations apply. This provides an official determination backed by regulation, strengthening environmental and phytosanitary safeguards as well as public confidence in these technologies

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Chile's Ministry of Agriculture has introduced a draft resolution to standardize the assessment of plant materials developed using New Breeding Techniques (NBTs). The proposal, presented by the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), formalizes a technical procedure already in practice for over eight years, aiming to increase legal certainty and align the country with the global shift toward science-based biotechnology governance. A 60-day public consultation is now open, with the resolution expected to take effect by late May 2026.

The framework establishes a clear distinction between NBT-derived products, where precise genetic changes replicate processes that can occur naturally without introducing foreign genes, and transgenic organisms, which remain subject to existing GMO regulations. This case-by-case assessment, mandatory before any field use, determines whether a development should be treated as conventional or fall under stricter oversight. ChileBio praised the initiative as a milestone for agricultural innovation governance, noting it strengthens SAG's authority while improving traceability without altering current GMO rules.

The resolution reflects a broader strategy to bolster Chile's agricultural resilience amid climate change, rising environmental standards, and food security challenges. Dr. Miguel Ángel Sánchez of ChileBio emphasized that formalizing these science-based procedures will accelerate access to improved plant varieties, reduce development timelines and costs, and deliver concrete benefits for farmers, consumers, and the environment.

For the cannabis industry, Chile's regulatory evolution signals an important precedent in Latin America. As breeding programs increasingly employ marker-assisted selection, genomic tools, and precision techniques to develop stable F1 hybrids and climate-adapted cultivars, regulatory clarity around what constitutes "conventional" versus "genetically modified" becomes critical for international trade and market access. Countries establishing transparent, science-based frameworks, particularly those distinguishing precise breeding from transgenesis, create pathways for advanced genetics companies to operate with greater legal certainty. For cannabis breeders working across jurisdictions, monitoring these developments helps anticipate how emerging regulatory models may eventually extend to cannabis as legalization matures globally.

Source: SeedWorld