News2nd June 2025
The project aims to use synthetic biology (sometimes referred to as engineering biology) to catalyse a new generation of major crops that are more resilient and sustainable. It is funded by the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) Synthetic Plants programme, which takes a holistic approach to innovation, integrating technical work with social and ethical research as part of ARIA’s commitment to social responsibility.
The UK government, through its National Vision for Engineering Biology, has pledged to be a world leader in responsible research and innovation (RRI) by 2030. Steps towards this ambition can be made through initiatives like the Synthetic Plants programme, but foresight and long-term thinking must be central to its design.
It is also crucial that robust ethical oversight and in-depth public engagement are prioritised. Without it we cannot ensure public trust is garnered and we could risk losing out on the societal benefits offered by potentially transformative technologies, such as synthetic biology.
This project is a partnership between research groups at The University of Edinburgh, The University of Sussex and The University of Exeter and public engagement organisations, including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the Natural History Museum and A Bigger Conversation.
We will be working to co-design governance frameworks for synthetic plant genomics. Engaging with plant breeders, farmers and the public, we will explore different sustainability models for integrating synthetic plants into agriculture, and rethinking risk assessment methodologies to incorporate wider societal concerns.
Engineering biology presents us with a transformative opportunity for global agriculture, sustainability, and food security, but we must proceed with caution and ensure we are learning from past examples where ethical consideration and public engagement were not prioritised.
Long-term thinking will be vital for navigating this well, which is why I am thrilled that we are able to contribute our specialist skills in horizon scanning and foresight to this project. We will be working to design collaborative and future-focused exercises that will enable us to convene diverse groups of people, identify trade-offs and build consensus.”
Danielle Hamm, Director, Nuffield Council on Bioethics
This project will deliver interactive public events across the UK, commissioning artistic and multimedia projects to stimulate broader societal reflection on synthetic plants. In doing this, we hope to foster early and meaningful public participation, ensuring that diverse voices are invited to shape the application of this emerging technology.
Our capabilities to engineer plants using synthetic biology, as well as to use engineering biology more broadly, are advancing. These advances will create unexpected dilemmas and new opportunities to reimagine who shapes the development of emerging technologies and how. Our project is taking a proactive approach to work alongside scientists, policymakers, and the public to co-develop governance frameworks that can guide responsible innovation from the outset.
Our approach responds to over a decade of learning about the politics of biotechnology, synthetic biology and synthetic genomics. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has long been a leader in thinking about the place of synthetic biotechnology in society. They are also doing great work to build new foresight capabilities, so I’m excited to be working with them.”
Dr Rob Smith, Project lead, School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh
The findings from this project will provide the ethical evidence needed to meaningfully guide national and international policy. Our goal is to co-create and test governance structures that ensure new innovations are aligned with ethical principles to deliver against both societal needs and wants.
Related projects
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Joint project