Towards social acceptance of plant breeding by genome editing

• We examine the current development of major crops modified by genome-editing.
• We propose a regulatory concept for plant breeding by genome-editing.
• Four potential regulatory guidelines are presented for worldwide discussion.
• Right-to-know may be necessary for social acceptance of genome-edited crops.

Although genome-editing technologies facilitate efficient plant breeding without introducing a transgene, it is creating indistinct boundaries in the regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Rapid advances in plant breeding by genome-editing require the establishment of a new global policy for the new biotechnology, while filling the gap between process-based and product-based GMO regulations. In this Opinion article we review recent developments in producing major crops using genome-editing, and we propose a regulatory model that takes into account the various methodologies to achieve genetic modifications as well as the resulting types of mutation. Moreover, we discuss the future integration of genome-editing crops into society, specifically a possible response to the ‘Right to Know’ movement which demands labeling of food that contains genetically engineered ingredients.