![Canada is developing new non-GMO oat varieties [World News]](https://foodcom.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/News-world_22-1-1520x760.png "Canada is developing new non-GMO oat varieties [World News]")
- Canada is developing new varieties of oats without foreign DNA using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
- The aim is to shorten the ripening time and increase the beta-glucan content.
- The varieties are expected to tolerate cold better and be adapted to a short growing season.
- In 2024, the authorities approved the use of edited plants in animal feed, supporting the development of more resistant and productive crops.
New technologies in cereal cultivation
Canadian scientists are working on new oat varieties that are created through CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, without the use of foreign DNA. The changes are expected to speed up maturation and increase the content of beta-glucans, a natural substance beneficial to health.
The team from McGill University in Quebec stresses that modern methods allow very precise modifications that would take years in traditional breeding. The absence of foreign genetic material means that the new varieties can be better accepted by consumers, especially those sceptical of GMOs.
Support for farmers in a changing climate
The new varieties are supposed to be better adapted to changing weather conditions: they flower faster, mature earlier and withstand cold better. This is important especially in regions where the growing season is short and the weather unpredictable.
In 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) authorised the use of genetically edited crops in feed production. The new regulations allow the development of varieties that are more resistant to drought, disease and pests, as well as those that use water and nutrients more efficiently.
