Tag: agricultural innovation

Aligning Science, Policy, and Practice: Key Outcomes from the GeneBEcon Symposium

The recent GeneBEcon Science-Policy Symposium held in Berlin, organized by the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) and Agroscope, brought together experts and stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the regulatory and socio-economic implications of new genomic techniques (NGTs). The event highlighted the central role of NGTs in advancing sustainable agriculture and supporting the transition towards a circular bioeconomy in Europe.

With contributions from the GeneBEcon project, the symposium featured presentations on regulatory perspectives, risk assessment, and insights into how these techniques can reshape the agricultural landscape. Representatives from law, bioeconomy, and risk analysis presented findings, emphasizing the importance of policy frameworks that support innovative plant breeding methods and genome editing to unlock the potential of NGTs sustainably.

This event also included discussions with the Stakeholder Advisory Board, focusing on the GeneBEcon project’s systems mapping approach and exploring strategies for the final months of the project. The Swiss Embassy in Germany hosted a session tailored to German-speaking policymakers, allowing deeper engagement and regional policy alignment.

GeneBEcon’s initiative is critical for harmonizing science, policy, and public engagement in the bioeconomy and the broader scope of sustainable agricultural practices. The project continues to drive impact by aligning scientific progress with societal and regulatory needs, paving the way for NGTs to contribute meaningfully to Europe’s green transition.

From Research to Policy: Insights from GeneBEcon’s 5th Consortium Meeting

The 5th GeneBEcon Consortium Meeting brought partners and stakeholders together in Berlin to assess progress, strategize for the project’s final phase, and explore ways to maximize the impact of its results. Highlights included insightful presentations from project partners, updates from the Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB), and sessions on advancing the project’s Key Exploitable Results. Partners also refined the NGT Transition Action Plan in a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Workshop facilitated by XPRO Consulting. This plan outlines short-, medium-, and long-term actions to boost awareness of new genomic techniques (NGTs) and counter misinformation across diverse stakeholders, including farmers, the food industry, policymakers, and NGOs.

Participants also engaged in an Exploitation Workshop with external advisors and the Horizon Booster Service, focusing on strategies to sustain the project’s impact beyond its conclusion. The consortium’s work on systems mapping was another focal point, offering frameworks to connect GeneBEcon’s research with policy pathways and practical applications in sustainable agriculture and plant breeding.

agricultural innovation bioeconomy Consortium Meeting EU Horizon Europe exploitation strategy gene editing GeneBecon Key Exploitable Results NEW Genomic Techniques NGT Transition Action Plan NGTs policy impact Responsible Research and Innovation RRI workshop stakeholder engagement sustainable agriculture systems mapping

Turning Innovation into Action: Explore Key Takeaways from GeneBEcon’s Exploitation

The recent GeneBEcon Exploitation Workshop brought together external stakeholders and Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) members to review and advance the project’s exploitation strategies. During this collaborative session, participants explored the Key Exploitable Results (KERs) presented by project partners and assessed their broader potential within the agricultural value chain. By focusing on strengths and challenges, the workshop aimed to solidify robust, targeted exploitation plans that will drive the practical impact of new genomic techniques (NGTs) across sustainable agriculture and bioeconomy sectors.

Insights from this workshop will be instrumental in aligning GeneBEcon’s goals with real-world applications, ensuring that the project’s outcomes meet the demands of various stakeholders.

agricultural innovation bioeconomy EU Horizon Europe exploitation strategy Exploitation Workshop gene editing GeneBecon KERs Key Exploitable Results NEW Genomic Techniques NGTs Plant breeding stakeholder engagement sustainable agriculture

The Final RRI Workshop: Advancing the NGT Transition Action Plan

The third and final Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) workshop on the NGT Transition Action Plan, designed and facilitated by XPRO Consulting Limited, took place on 25 October 2024 in Berlin during the 5th Consortium Meeting.

This interactive session brought together the Stakeholder Advisory Board, external stakeholders, and GeneBEcon partners to evaluate and refine the proposed Transition Action Plan for new genomic techniques (NGTs). Participants analyzed actions and their interdependencies across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons, focusing on six key stakeholder groups: farmer associations, breeder associations, the food industry, consumer associations, policymakers, and NGOs.

The workshop aimed at addressing the challenges of misinformation and disinformation, affirming the plan’s strategic direction. Attendees emphasized the importance of inclusive discussions, mutual learning, and actionable steps to enhance NGT awareness and sustainable plant breeding. Building on these insights, the GeneBEcon team at XPRO Consulting is now finalizing the Transition Action Plan, which will result into six specific NGTs Transition Pathways, one for each stakeholder group.

agricultural innovation bioeconomy disinformation EU policy gene editing GeneBecon Horizon Europe misinformation NEW Genomic Techniques NGT Transition Action Plan NGTs Plant breeding Responsible Research and Innovation RRI workshop stakeholder engagement sustainable agriculture XPRO Consulting

Shaping EU Policy on Genomic Techniques: Explore Key Insights from GeneBEcon’s SAB Workshop

The recent GeneBEcon Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) workshop brought together experts from Plants for the Future, Euroseeds, and ILVO to assess the strategic gathering focused on the progress of the EU legislative proposal concerning plants developed through new genomic techniques (NGTs) and provided a comprehensive update on GeneBEcon’s ongoing systems mapping work.

Participants received a detailed briefing on the project’s latest advancements, with an emphasis on how systems mapping applies to the GeneBEcon project’s objectives. This SAB workshop underscored the importance of aligning insights from stakeholders and research partners, solidifying GeneBEcon’s commitment to making informed contributions to EU policy for sustainable agriculture and plant breeding.

agricultural innovation bioeconomy EU legislative proposal EU policy Euroseeds gene editing GeneBecon GeneBEcon Consortium Meeting ILVO NEW Genomic Techniques NGTs Plant breeding Plants for the Future regulatory developments SAB workshop Stakeholder Advisory Board stakeholder engagement sustainable agriculture systems mapping