The two main associations of the Spanish agri-food biotechnology sector invite companies to participate in the public consultation of the European Commission
The Spanish Association of Bioenterprises (AseBio) and the Technological Platform for Plant Biotechnology (Biovegen) have joined forces to promote the participation of their members in the European Commission (EC) public consultation to drive a change in legislation regarding novel genomic techniques (NGT) related to plants.
Genomic editing is a new approach to genetic improvement based on knowledge, which leverages the plants’ own natural solutions, helping to reduce current requirements for external inputs and enabling more environmentally friendly food production. “This technology has the potential to contribute to a more sustainable agri-food system and help achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy to address the adverse conditions caused by climate change and population growth,” stated Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna, manager of Biovegen.
Countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, or Japan, among others, have already taken the necessary steps because their regulations allow it: several genetically edited crops, as well as their derived products, are entering the global market, and many more are in development.
Following the publication of the study in April 2021 by the CE, which confirmed this evidence, the need to authorize the use of these tools in Europe is becoming increasingly clear in order not to fall behind. Ion Arocena, general director of AseBio confirms: “It must be made clear that the final product obtained thanks to NTG is equally safe, more sustainable, and has better characteristics. The improvements caused by biotechnology accelerate what could occur naturally in the coming years. It is important to consider the product and not just how it was obtained. There is significant interest both in the European Union and worldwide for the applications of NTG in plants, and some of these applications are already on the market outside the EU. Now it is our turn to get on this train.”
Both entities request the European Commission to adopt a proportionate and non-discriminatory approach regarding advanced genetic improvement in its future legislation, allowing for the full implementation of European sustainability objectives in agro-food production using all possible resources, including advanced genetic improvement techniques, which enable us to address sustainability and biodiversity challenges.
The public consultation will be open until July 22, 2022.