Awareness on New Genomic Techniques
By Nuria Alonso
Something to be aware of is the advance of the New Genomic Techniques (NGT), and the growing acceptance of this technique. There is considerable opposition to GMOs among the general public, at least in some countries, but this is something else—less well-known and, in principle, more widely accepted—a new threat that the organic sector must face.
Last July, the EU Parliament approved a new regulation on plants obtained through NGT. These techniques will not be allowed in the EU in organic production, however, the risks of contamination increase.
NGT is a set of laboratory tools (such as CRISPR “genetic scissors”) that make it possible to modify a plant’s DNA without adding genes from other species, but rather by cutting and editing its own genes.
The new regulation distinguishes between Category 1 and Category 2 NTG plants. Category 2 plants will continue to be subject to current regulations on genetically modified organisms, including risk assessment, authorization, traceability and labelling. In contrast, Category 1 NTG applies to varieties with few modifications (fewer than twenty genetic changes), which the regulations consider equivalent to a plant that could be obtained through conventional breeding or natural mutations. This regulation leaves consumers unprotected regarding their right of being informed, because food made from 1 NTG plants will not be labelled with any specific information and 1 NTG plants can be mixed with plants of other origins by the agri-food industry.
The organic sector is reacting, as examples, the declaration of IFOAM Organics Europe, who “re-affirms commitment to produce without NGTs and warns of threats on European seed sovereignty “and states that the highest concern nowadays is issue of patents on traits and genetic sequences, which risk limiting access to genetic resources, reducing innovation and increasing dependencies.
The Spanish association ASOBIO calls on European institutions to ensure, during the development and implementation of the new framework, effective traceability mechanisms, legal protection against accidental contamination, clear measures to address the expansion of seed patents, and sufficient information to enable consumers to exercise their right to choose. They also claim that organic farmers should not be the ones burdened with protecting their crops from risks they did not create, as is often the case.
This will be for sure an issue to be aware of in the coming times.
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