Part of the solution

By being classified as a GMO, Genome Editing is de facto not applicable in the EU. However, the debate about new breeding methods continues, and as a company we can help shape it - also with a view to sustainable agriculture.

The term Genome Editing is used to describe new breeding methods that induce targeted breaks within the DNA of a plant. DNA breaks occur spontaneously in nature all the time - Genome Editing replaces these ‘chance’ breaks with precision. This allows breeders to make targeted and specific changes without introducing foreign DNA. Using these methods speeds up the breeding process and allows us to respond more quickly to meet the challenges our society faces; to make agriculture more sustainable and respond to climatic changes, and the subsequent effects that has on growing.

In public discussions, and by some NGO’s, concerns have been expressed about the safety of Genome Editing, for the environment and human consumption, despite being largely welcomed in human medicine. There is a scientific consensus that the risks associated with application of SDN-1 and SDN-2 (see infographic) are equivalent to those of conventional breeding methods, since no foreign DNA is introduced.

Overview: This is how genome editing is regulated worldwide

This is a highly simplified overview of current regulations, which are also subject to frequent change. For detailed information on the regulation of genome editing, please contact the Regulatory Affairs RD-RA department.

This scientific consensus is also reflected in how Genome Editing is or is not regulated in many countries (see overview of global regulation). The EU however has taken a different approach: In its ruling in 2018, the European Court of Justice classified all plants developed with the aid of new breeding methods, such as Genome Editing, as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This, even if the product is identical to those resulting from conventional breeding. The high regulatory, financial and time burden, and the lack of acceptance for genetic engineering, mean that an application of Genome Editing is effectively dead in the EU.

In response, the EU Commission initiated a study (due this April) in to whether the current regulatory framework in the EU is suitable for the different applications of Genome Editing, taking into consideration the potential benefits of the technology. The EU has set an ambitious goal with its Green Deal to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The Farm to Fork Strategy is the Green Deal’s component that considers agriculture, and expectations for the sector are high: It is anticipated that by 2030 there will be a 50% reduction in the use of chemical pesticides, 20% reduction in the use of fertilizers, and 25% of farmland will be organic.

Three forms of genome editing

How will we be able to reach these goals if we are denied access to the tools that provide solutions? Genome Editing alone is of course not the answer, but it is part of the solution. In our opinion, it has the potential to develop plants that require less water or fertilizer, are more resistant to pests and diseases, and produce higher-yielding crops. With the ongoing political discussions, now is the time for plant breeders to speak up and show, with good examples, the benefits that these methods can offer.

One concrete example is the PILTON project, which aims to show what benefits can be achieved for agriculture and society through the use of Genome Editing. It is not the individual method that KWS is advocating for; rather, it is the possibility of using these methods to find solutions to the challenges of the future. For that to happen the current regulation must change, which is what KWS and our associations, BDP and Euroseeds, are working for. We can all contribute to communicating this important topic - we are all ambassadors. |

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To the Farm to Fork Strategy
To the PILTON project (German)

Part of the solution

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