CBGP (UPM-INIA) welcomes the EC study on new genomic techniques

CBGP (UPM-INIA) welcomes the European Commission (EC) study on new genomic techniques and wants to thank the EU Council for having requested this study. As a basis for the study, the EC has collected a substantial amount of information coming from ENGL, EFSA, the JRC, EGE, the EU member states and a wide spectrum of stakeholder groups. This indicates how much importance the EC is attaching to the topic. CBGP (UPM-INIA) is one of the 134 European Plant Science centers that are members of EU-SAGE (European Sustainable Agriculture through Genome Editing). EU-SAGE has stated on different occasions that a proportionate, non-discriminatory approach is necessary that fosters innovation and supports advanced plant breeding as part of the transition to a more sustainable food production system in line with the goals of the European Green Deal and Farm-To-Fork strategy. CBGP (UPM-INA) and EU-SAGE are looking forward and ready to further engage on this topic with the EC and all other stakeholders on the basis of the findings that are presented today. The time is right and the ingredients are available to move to a responsible and future-proof EU policy on innovative plant breeding.

The EC states that: “The study finds that there are strong indications that the current 2001 GMO legislation is not fit for purpose for some new genomic techniques and their products, and that it needs adaptation to scientific and technological progress”.

Full information on EC study on new genomic techniques available here.

In the context of this this scientific/innovation discussion, the CBGP (UPM-INIA) in the frame of its CBGP_S3-Forum Program, organized the Workshop “Novel Genome Editing Technologies: Evolution and Revolution” last 12th April. In the Forum, it was discussed the potential contribution of Genome Editing technology to sustainable agriculture goals and the different legal policies and scenarios to commercialize genome-edited products, with the participation of three keynote speakers: Prof. Holger Puchta, Dr. Sigrid Bratlie and Dr. Gabino Sánchez.