EU Considers Relaxing GMO Laws to Ensure Food Security

Strategic Insights -

As scientists increasingly link climate change to frequent extreme weather events affecting food production, the European Union is considering relaxing its legislation on genetic engineering and GMO crops. The potential move aims to accelerate the development of more resilient crops, guaranteeing food security and keeping Europe abreast of scientific advancements in genome editing techniques. Key players, including the EU's Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, argue that plants produced with new genomic techniques (NGT) can support sustainability.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU is contemplating relaxing its legislation on GMO crops to promote the development of more resistant crops in the face of climate change and food insecurity.
  • The proposed legislation would categorize new genomic technique (NGT) plants into two groups: NGT-1, which do not contain genetic material from other organisms and do not differ from conventionally bred plants by more than 20 genetic alterations, and NGT plants that meet specific sustainability criteria set out in the European Green Deal.
  • The draft legislation excludes herbicide-resistant NGT plants, such as glyphosate-resistant plants, from exemptions and would continue to be regulated under existing GMO laws.
  • Experts believe that the new law would help differentiate between genetically modified plants grown using NGT and those bred with traditional plant-breeding techniques.
  • The proposed legislation sets limits on the number of genetic modifications (20) and nucleotides that can be replaced or inserted to complete a genetic modification.
  • Some experts argue that the 20-nucleotide limit is arbitrary and lacks robust scientific evidence, while others consider it an acceptable threshold.

Statistics:

  • 20 genetic alterations are allowed in NGT plants to differentiate from conventionally bred plants.
  • 20 nucleotides can be replaced or inserted to complete a genetic modification.
  • The proposed legislation excludes herbicide-resistant NGT plants, including glyphosate-resistant plants.

Sources:

  • [ARC 2020: A draft of the proposed legislation]
  • [German Science Media Center (SMC) - Expert opinions]
  • [Muscat Media Group - Article "EU considers relaxing GMO laws to ensure food security"]