- The study by the EC highlights the potential of these tools for developing a more sustainable and competitive agri-food system.
- BIOVEGEN and EU SAGE are organizing the Symposium “Genomic Editing of Crops: Beyond Science” which will highlight the importance of these techniques in the European context.
Madrid, 11-05-2021.- BIOVEGEN – Spanish Technological Platform for Plant Biotechnology, as an R&D network in plant production and a representative entity of the innovative Spanish agri-food sector, has welcomed with optimism the publication of the study released by the European Commission on new genomic techniques (in English, NGTs). This study was requested by the Council of the European Union as a result of the decision by the Court of Justice to subject organisms obtained through these techniques to regulation on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
BIOVEGEN supports the main conclusions of this study, which highlights that there is strong evidence that current legislation does not fit the purposes of some NGTs and their products, and therefore needs to be adapted to scientific and technological advances. It also states that it would not be justified to apply different levels of regulatory control to similar products, such as plants, generated and obtained traditionally from certain NGTs. This document also shows how these NGTs have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable agri-food system and help achieve the goals of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.
Aware of the importance of these new genomic techniques, which represent a revolutionary technology whose significance has been recognized with the awarding of the Nobel Prize to its discoverers, BIOVEGEN has co-organized, together with EU SAGE, the Symposium “Genomic Editing of Crops: Beyond Science” which will take place tomorrow, May 12, 2021, starting at 11:00 AM.
This meeting will focus on reviewing the state of the art in genomic editing and its application to agriculture, as well as discussing and studying the social, economic, and sustainability consequences arising from the implementation of more restrictive or permissive regulations. To this end, the ethical, legal, and competitive implications will be analyzed with the help of experts in various disciplines, including representatives from research, business, economics, and bioethics.
About BIOVEGEN
BIOVEGEN-Plant Biotechnology Technological Platform is a public-private entity aimed at improving the competitiveness of the sector through the development of technologies derived from Plant Biology. To achieve this, it connects entities in the Spanish agri-food sector, linking the supply and demand for technology, and generating business opportunities through Science-Business collaboration. BIOVEGEN develops collaborations and R&D projects, identifying the technological challenges of the sector to develop technologies. It acts as an interface between the scientific community, businesses, and the Administration. To this end, it offers a series of tools to facilitate R&D&I activities for its partners. Currently, it has 134 partner entities: 113 companies, 21 research organizations, and the Ministry of Science and Innovation, which supports and co-finances the initiative. Furthermore, BIOVEGEN is open to collaborations with other entities in the sector.
About EU SAGE
EUSAGE (European Sustainable Agriculture through Genome Editing) is a network representing over 130 European research institutes and associations that have joined forces to provide information on genetic editing and promote the development of European policies that allow its use in sustainable agriculture and food production. In 2020, EUSAGE published an Open Statement addressed to the European Council, the European Parliament, and the European Commission, in which European scientists recommend revising the current Directive on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to reflect current scientific knowledge and evidence on genome editing.