Plant Breeding with New Genomic Techniques, which is the best option in the EU?

Image of GeneBEcon project feature potatos with the question Plant breeding with New Genomic Techniques, Which is the best option in the EU?

CORDIS has released an article featuring GeneBEcon’s scientific publication that has been published in Nature Plants. The first peer-reviewed scientific article prepared by partners of the GeneBEcon consortium, “Options for regulating new genomic techniques for plants in the European Union” describes a range of options for regulating plants derived from New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) in the European Union (EU) and assesses their respective impacts on biosafety data requirements, the likelihood of uptake and overall socio-economic implications.

The CORDIS article highlights the study’s aim to assist political decision-makers in forming a clearer picture of the available options for regulating NGTs for plants in EU in the current debate on a draft law by the Commission. – In the study, the GeneBEcon scientists concluded that the best option would be to focus on plant traits with sustainability benefits. This is “the best way to contribute to climate protection and the transition to climate neutrality and to immediately integrate sustainability into all food-related policy areas,” stated the study lead author, Prof. Dr Kai Purnhagen from the University of Bayreuth, Germany.

With the recent positive vote by the European Parliament on the Commission’s legislative proposal for New Genomic Techniques, GeneBEcon sees this as a significant step towards fostering innovation in plant breeding for a sustainable EU agriculture and food system.

GeneBEcon’s scientific article can be found here.

Get more information on the CORDIS article here

 

 

 

2nd RRI Workshop is coming soon in February 2024!

Image about the promotion of the 2nd Responsible Research & Innovation Workshop

GeneBEcon is hosting its second Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) Workshop on February 21st, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. The aim of this workshop is to actively engage the GeneBEcon Stakeholder Advisory Board, Ethics Board, EC, and GeneBEcon partners in a Co-Creation process to define a long-term NGT Transition Vision and Action Plan for increasing NGT-desirability and value in the agricultural and industrial sectors. The workshop is designed to co-create I-SMART actions for a New Genomic Techniques Transition Plan towards sustainable agriculture, food, and biotechnology.

 

Goals of the 2nd RRI Co-Creation Workshop:

 

1) Set the scene for Actions co-creation based on the results of the 1st RRI workshop considering how to best handle misinformation and disinformation.

2) Continue the co-creation process by co-defining actions for turning NGTs Weaknesses to Strengths and Threats to Opportunities with I-SMART* Actions for achieving sustainable agriculture and aquaculture and the industrial use of their products, which is our social objective.

*I-SMART: I = Impact on social objective, Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, Time-bound.

 

The 2nd RRI workshop is being organized and facilitated by GeneBEcon partner, XPRO Consulting Limited, in close collaboration with GeneBEcon partner, EV ILVO.