Following the publication of our report “When Chatbots Breed New Plant Varieties”, experts used a publicly accessible AI tool to design a genetically modified (GM) plant with novel insecticidal properties. The experiment shows that the EU’s proposed legislation on new genomic techniques (NGT) would fail to protect the environment from serious harm if it does not take emerging technological capabilities into account.
Should genetic engineering be used to kill off invasive species, or make corals resistant to warmer waters? Should endangered species be genetically modified in the name of nature conservation? The controversy over the role of genetic engineering in nature conservation continues to intensify. Two motions have been submitted for adoption by the World Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) later this year.
Civil society organisations from across Europe have issued a joint statement urging EU decision makers to uphold mandatory labelling and traceability for genetically modified plants developed through new genomic techniques (NGTs), such as CRISPR/Cas.
Fifty years after the famous 1975 Asilomar biosafety conference — a moment of self-reflection and self-regulation of molecular biologists— a group of historians and bioengineers organized a three-day conference in the same place to reflect and learn for the future. Naomi Kosmehl of Save Our Seeds got hold of a grant to attend this exclusive event.
As final negotiations begin on the proposed deregulation of genetically modified (GM) plants developed with new genomic techniques (NGTs), industry groups are pressuring EU decision-makers to reject mandatory on-package labelling for products containing these GMOs. Save Our Seeds urges EU decision-makers to uphold transparency and protect consumers’ fundamental right to choose what they eat.
On 6 May, final negotiations will begin on the deregulation of plants engineered using new genetic modification (GM) techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas. During so-called trilogue talks, the European Parliament, Council of Ministers and European Commission will finalise an agreed version of the proposed Regulation on plants obtained through “new genomic techniques” (NGT).
Proposals to relax EU GMO laws could violate international law, according to a new legal opinion. The planned EU law on “new genomic techniques” (NGT) may be incompatible with the Biosafety Protocol of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
On Friday 14 March, the 27 EU member states reached an agreement on the deregulation of plants produced using new genetic engineering techniques, known as “new genomic techniques”. A qualified majority of member states backed the compromise proposal put forward by the Polish EU presidency. Many agricultural and environmental organisations had criticised the proposal.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sees no new risks from the use of new genetic engineering techniques on animals. Its draft scientific opinion is available for comment until 19 March. Testbiotech has criticised the “wrong approach”.
In a joint statement, more than 200 organisations bringing together small-scale and organic breeders, farmers’ organisations, food retailers, and civil society groups —including Save Our Seeds — are urging the EU institutions to reject the proposed deregulation of gene-edited plants.
