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Original article: Organizaciones cuestionan al SAG por regulación de cultivos editados genéticamente y denuncian falta de rigor científico y participación real

Organizations Challenge SAG Over Genetically Edited Crop Regulation, Citing Lack of Scientific Rigor and Genuine Participation

The Chilean Pesticide Action Network (RAP-Chile), along with various environmental groups, farmers, beekeepers, and consumer organizations, has voiced strong criticisms regarding the processes initiated by the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) concerning the regulation of crops obtained through technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, known internationally as New Genomic Techniques (NGTs).

According to these organizations, the process reveals serious deficiencies both in terms of public participation and the method used to evaluate the genetic material of genetically edited crops.

In this regard, they alleged that SAG did not incorporate proposals for modifying the resolution during the Public Consultation nor substantive observations regarding the risks of genetic editing on biodiversity and agriculture.

The Public Consultation (No. 31.216/2025) was conducted during the summer period and was open until March 13. They argue that this instance functioned more as a validation mechanism for previously adopted decisions than a real participatory process, favoring the interests of biotechnology companies and the seed sector tied to genetic modification of crops.

One of the most controversial points of this process is the authorization of genetically edited wheat (GM), approved in July 2025, without regulations and under criteria that the organizations describe as arbitrary.

These criteria—based on a supposed “equivalence” with conventional crops—are defined by the companies developing these technologies. However, from a scientific perspective, they assert that there is no solid basis to consider plants with profound modifications in their genome equivalent to conventional varieties.

Insufficient Analysis

RAP-Chile further criticized that SAG has not considered critical aspects and risks of NGTs, particularly concerning their safety and precision levels.

María Elena Rozas, national coordinator of RAP-Chile, warned that, in practice, the genetically edited wheat was evaluated using insufficient, rapid, and low-cost analyses, such as short-read genome sequencing, to determine whether it corresponds to a transgenic organism, which allowed it to be classified as conventional and exempted from deeper risk evaluations prior to its introduction into the environment and commercialization.

Rozas alerted that the failure to use more rigorous techniques (WGS) that enable the detection of potential foreign DNA fragments jeopardizes biodiversity and the integrity of agricultural systems, particularly organic, agroecological, biodynamic, and permaculture systems.

It is worth noting that certain genomic characteristics are difficult to resolve without longer read lengths, which allow for the detection of important structural variants, including insertions, deletions, mutations, off-target effects, or random genetic insertions in the genome, aspects documented in specialized literature.

Concerns Over SAG’s Response

In response to the proposal to use whole genome sequencing, SAG stated that this method would pose problems as “imposing it as a general obligation would distort the case-by-case approach and introduce disproportionate regulatory burdens.”

This approach, promoted and praised by the biotechnology companies holding the patents, facilitates a rapid response time of 20 business days, thanks to its simplicity and speed. Additionally, the euphemism “New Breeding Techniques” (NBT), used by SAG, the biotechnology industry, and patent-owning companies, points toward the establishment of lax regulations by the regulatory body.

According to María Elena Rozas, “if this regulation is not modified, it will give patent-owning companies the ability to evade key requirements such as coexistence (establishing safety distances) to prevent contamination of conventional and organic crops, as well as traceability, the right to know for farmers and consumers, and the definition of legal responsibilities for patent-holding companies, including the obligation to respond to potential damages to farmers or ecosystems.”

In this context, it is noted that NGTs and their regulation promoted and designed by large biotech corporations and dominant players in the patented seed market can negatively impact conventional and ecological agriculture.

Regarding this, the national coordinator of RAP-Chile warned that “the approval of genetically edited GM wheat and other GM edited crops, without rigorous regulations, endangers beekeeping, the integrity of natural heritage, and agricultural systems, particularly organic, agroecological, and permaculture, due to the unforeseen environmental consequences of NGTs and the limitations of the technique used by SAG to identify traits controlled by multiple genes.

Rural Women Warn of Risks to Seeds and Food Sovereignty

Alicia Muñoz, leader of the National Association of Rural and Indigenous Women (Anamuri), highlighted that one of the most concerning aspects of these policies is the risk of contamination of heirloom seeds, with potentially irreversible consequences for biodiversity.

Historically, rural and indigenous women have been the primary custodians of seeds. “We speak of a deep knowledge, inherited from our grandmothers, who taught us to care for and share seeds without depending on others, least of all large corporations,” stated Alicia Muñoz.

The leader added that when decisions are left in the hands of corporations, sovereignty ceases to exist.

“Food sovereignty is a heritage of the peoples, serving humanity and not corporate interests. What is at stake is the autonomy of territories and the future of peasant agriculture, largely sustained by the work of women,” reminded Anamuri’s representative.

From the agricultural world, organizations warn that the current regulation leaves producers in a highly vulnerable situation.

In this vein, Camilo Guzmán, president of the United Farmers Association, pointed out that there are no clear rules to prevent genetic contamination, nor mechanisms that assign responsibilities or compensations should it occur.

In this scenario, a farmer could be affected by the presence of patented genetic material in their field—transported even by natural factors such as wind—without any legal protection.

Additionally, he warned that what is at stake is not only agricultural production but also the preservation of traditional varieties: “This is not just about one crop, but about safeguarding seeds that peasant and indigenous communities have preserved for generations throughout Chile.”

Guzmán added that the introduction of genetically edited wheat could deepen the sector’s crisis, not due to the technology itself, but because of the absence of basic tools such as labeling and traceability.

“Without these guarantees, consumers cannot distinguish between conventional wheat and edited wheat. No one can ensure what the bread they buy contains today.” In his view, this situation limits the right to information and directly affects both producers and consumers, as well as the value of traditional varieties preserved by peasant and indigenous communities across the country.

Failings in Public Consultation

Regarding the Public Consultation, the United Farmers Association reported that the analysis of the 84 responses submitted by SAG reveals the use of only three standard texts to respond to 95% of the comments, including those with technical-scientific foundations.

Observations concerning off-target effects, the absence of traceability protocols, and legal risks associated with intellectual property received generic responses, failing to address the substantive arguments.

According to United Farmers, this constitutes a violation of the duty of motivation established in Article 11 of Law No. 19,880, which requires that acts of the Public Administration be substantiated. The systematic use of standardized responses to specific technical observations undermines this principle, affecting the validity of the procedure, and they demand a concrete modification of the text before the resolution is signed.

Practically, the project would allow CRISPR-edited or cisgenesis wheat to be treated as conventional seed, which would directly impact the traditional wheat sector, affecting its competitiveness, legal security, and its ability to safeguard the integrity of its crops.

In light of this scenario, United Farmers—while not seeking to obstruct scientific development or hinder agricultural innovation—announced it will resort to available institutional tools, including formal requests for information from SAG, submissions to the Comptroller General of the Republic for possible flaws in the administrative procedure, actions with the Ministry of Agriculture, and coordination with lawmakers to review the resolution before its potential approval.

Consumers Demand Transparent Information and Greater Participation in Genetic Crop Regulation

Hernán Calderón, president of the National Corporation of Consumers and Users of Chile (Conadecus), stated that “the right to timely and truthful information is established in the Consumer Law. Not informing about the origin of food, nor adequately warning when dealing with organic, transgenic, or genetically modified products, limits this fundamental right.”

“Moreover, when these practices may jeopardize biodiversity and the integrity of agricultural systems, they directly violate the rights of consumers, who must have clear information to make informed decisions,” Calderón emphasized.

The majority of the 85 participants in the public consultation submitted comments with underlying concerns and observations that SAG did not address. Much of the feedback comes from socio-environmental organizations, farmers, organic, biodynamic, and agroecological producers, beekeepers, municipalities, indigenous communities, and independent citizens.

“Therefore, given the structural weaknesses in effectively involving all parties—the meetings that should have taken place before presenting the resolution project—and the lack of technical rigor demonstrated in this process, we request SAG to open an advisory commission from the National Director on New Genetic Techniques that allows broad participation from all sectors and the review of the draft resolution before its signature and publication,” stated the Pesticide Action Network of Chile.

We will continue to provide updates.

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