Bananas that don’t go brown, strawberries that last for weeks, tomatoes boosted with vitamin D: gene-edited foods could be on supermarket shelves as soon as next year as parliament prepares to pass new legislation.

Scientists say the proposed rules … will allow British consumers to benefit from tastier, healthier food with a lower environmental impact.

“I’m really excited,” said Gideon Henderson … “The population is growing globally and in the UK and we have to increase food productivity. There’s also a real need to design crop varieties that will be tolerant to the changing climate.”

For the last two years, following the 2023 [Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act], scientists have been allowed to grow precision-bred crops in field trials. … If the secondary legislation passes, it would allow these crops to be sold to consumers, either if they have been grown in England or imported from overseas.

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