The European Union has just taken a step towards deregulating New Genomic Techniques used for the improvement of agricultural plants. The agrichemical sector argues that they are essential to ensuring the future of food production, but many remain sceptical.
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00:00New plant breeding techniques may be essential to secure the future of food production, a
00:19research that is also taking place here at Maize and Botanic Garden.
00:25The argument advanced by the agrochemical sector is resisted by environmentalists and
00:30small farmers.
00:31The European Union implemented strict rules 20 years ago, but has now given a step towards
00:36deregulating new genomic techniques.
00:39Udi Code explains what's on the table.
00:42In the late 20th century, genes from different species were introduced into seeds, creating
00:47genetically modified organisms, known as GMOs.
00:52The aim of the technology is to develop more resilient plant strains and boost productivity.
00:58More recently, new genomic techniques have been developed, which modify the plant's own
01:03genes.
01:04Both techniques must comply with EU rules covering GMOs in terms of authorization, labeling
01:11and risk assessment.
01:13The new proposal aims to create two categories of new genomic techniques.
01:17One of them would have fewer risk controls and labeling requirements.
01:21We asked some Europeans what they think about this.
02:21Why does the proposal present two different categories for NGT plants, and how different
02:31are they?
02:32Scientists can now, in the laboratory, take a gene or a genetic sequence, a piece of DNA,
02:39and make individual little changes to it, and basically write the code of the DNA exactly
02:44how they want it, so you don't need to introduce a foreign gene into the plant anymore.
02:49So the European Commission decided that they needed to do something about this and thought
02:53they'd create two categories, one of products of these new techniques and one of the old
02:58ones which will remain subject to the existing rules.
03:01The controversy is that there are two camps.
03:04One camp thinks that these new types of GMO still carry the same risks that the old one
03:09did of unpredictable properties or impacts on the environment, and so on.
03:15Patents are proving also a funny issue.
03:19There is a very different position from the governments and the European Parliament.
03:25What is at stake?
03:26People argue that this restricts the choices available to farmers, it creates monopolies.
03:31So the European Parliament has agreed that they don't want this situation to arise in
03:35Europe with these new category of GM plants.
03:38The European Council, which is where governments are represented in European lawmaking, was
03:43divided on this and it delayed an agreement for almost a year on their position.
03:49But in the end they said, OK, patency should be allowed, but they have to be, you know,
03:55transparent in the reporting requirements.
03:57Few member states have actually shown much interest or enthusiasm regarding these crops.
04:04In many countries, GMO techniques were even banned.
04:07How much will change in terms of the new framework for agriculture in Europe?
04:13About ten years ago, when this subject became really a hot political potato, and there was
04:18a lot of public opposition in Europe to genetically modified plants in general, governments are
04:23just reacting to that.
04:24They demanded an opt-out and they secured it.
04:27What's going to change is that this new category of GM plants that they want to create, because
04:33they're going to be treated as largely equivalent to ordinary, naturally bred plants, governments
04:40will no longer have the option of banning their cultivation.
04:43So it could open the market for GM plants across Europe.
04:48Those involved in biotechnology argue that these plant varieties will be more resistant
04:53to drought and pests and will require less fertilizer.
04:57Health problems such as allergies are also being targeted, such as low-gluten cereals.
05:02Detractors point to the risks.
05:04Disruption for pollinating insects, contamination of organic farm produce, reduced access to
05:10seeds for smallholders, and unforeseen effects on human health.
05:40It's a good question, and we don't have the answer, because we're at the beginning of this new technology.
05:45The first solutions for agriculture are to make cultural practices evolve.
05:49They're solutions based on nature, and it's to use pesticides or new GM plants
05:56where there are no solutions.
05:58So, you see, keep in mind that when we intervene on nature, we trigger
06:04a cascade of effects that can pose risks or consequences for biodiversity.
06:09Be careful.
06:10The European Council is ready to approve patents for this new technology.
06:17The European Parliament is against patents.
06:20Are you open to negotiations that could lead to the authorization of these patents?
06:27If a few large international agrochemical groups have the monopoly of man-made seeds,
06:34the farmers will pay more.
06:36They won't be able to choose.
06:38And above all, we won't be able to innovate on varieties in an open way.
06:42The living resource, the living, will become the property of a few large groups.
06:47And that's what the Parliament absolutely wants to avoid.
06:50Large companies have a lot of money to make with these techniques.
06:54Should they have specific measures for organic agriculture?
07:00And also to help consumers understand what they're going to eat.
07:05There are a lot of sectors that are without GMOs and want to continue to be without these
07:10new GMOs.
07:12So it's organic agriculture, but also quality signs.
07:15We must also prevent their fields from being polluted by the seeds or products
07:21that are genetically modified.
07:23And we need clear and accessible information for all citizens who absolutely want,
07:28they tell us every day, to freely choose their diet.
07:32The European Commission asked a group of experts to assess the impact of NGT patents
07:38on seed availability and innovation.
07:41And researchers are also trying to explore how generative artificial intelligence
07:46may play a role on the technology.
07:49A new world of opportunities is opening up for food production,
07:53not without controversy.
07:58WorldFoodPresent.org