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 small 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 genes.
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.
02:22Why does the proposal present two different categories for NGT plants and how different are they?
02:31Scientists can now, in the laboratory, take a gene or a genetic sequence, a piece of DNA,
02:37and make individual little changes to it and basically write the code of the DNA exactly how they want it,
02:44so you don't need to introduce a foreign gene into the plant anymore.
02:48So the European Commission decided that they needed to do something about this
02:52and thought they'd create two categories, one of products of these new techniques
02:56and one of the old ones which will remain subject to the existing rules.
03:00The controversy is that there are two camps.
03:03One camp thinks that these new types of GMO still carry the same risks that the old one did
03:09of unpredictable properties or impacts on the environment and so on.
03:15Patents are proving also a funny issue.
03:18There is a very different position from the governments and the European Parliament.
03:24What is at stake?
03:25People argue that this restricts the choices available to farmers.
03:29It creates monopolies.
03:31So the European Parliaments agreed that they don't want this situation to arise in Europe
03:35with this new category of GM plants.
03:38The European Council, which is where governments are represented in European lawmaking,
03:43was divided 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,
03:52but they have to be transparent in the reporting requirements.
03:57Few member states have actually shown much interest or enthusiasm regarding these crops.
04:03In many countries GMO techniques were even banned.
04:07How much will change in terms of the new framework for agriculture in Europe?
04:12About ten years ago when this subject became really a hot political potato
04:17and there was a lot of public opposition in Europe to genetically modified plants in general,
04:22governments are just 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,
04:32because they're going to be treated as largely equivalent to ordinary, naturally bred plants,
04:39governments will no longer have the option of banning their cultivation.
04:42So it could open the market for GM plants across Europe.
04:47Those involved in biotechnology argue that these plant varieties will be more resistant to drought and pests
04:53and will require less fertilizer.
04:55Health problems such as allergies are also being targeted, such as low-gluten cereals.
05:01Detractors point to the risks.
05:03Disruption for pollinating insects,
05:05contamination of organic farm produce,
05:08reduced access to seeds for smallholders
05:11and unforeseen effects on human health.
05:14Our guest is Christophe Clergeot, a French member of the Socialist Party
05:19who worked on this legislation.
05:22Genetically modified organisms were very controversial.
05:30Are there any new scientific evidence that can be used in European agriculture without risk?
05:39That's a good question.
05:40And we don't have the answer because we're at the beginning of this new technology.
05:44The first solutions for agriculture are to make cultural practices evolve.
05:48These are solutions based on nature.
05:51And it's about using pesticides or new GM plants where there are no solutions.
05:58We have to keep in mind that when we intervene on nature,
06:03we trigger effects that can pose risks or consequences for biodiversity.
06:08We have to be careful.
06:09The European Council is ready to approve patents for this new technology.
06:16The European Parliament is against patents.
06:20Are you open to a negotiation that can lead to the authorization of these patents?
06:26If a few large international agrochemical groups monopolize seeds,
06:32farmers will pay more.
06:34They won't be able to choose.
06:36And above all, we won't be able to innovate on varieties in an open way.
06:41The living resource will become the property of a few large groups.
06:45And that's what the European Parliament wants to avoid.
06:48Large companies have a lot of money to make with these techniques.
06:53Should there be specific measures for organic agriculture
06:59and also to help consumers understand what they are going to eat?
07:04There are many sectors that are without GM and want to continue to be without these new GM plants.
07:11So it's organic agriculture, but also quality signs.
07:14It is also necessary to avoid that their fields are polluted
07:17by the seeds or products that are genetically modified.
07:22We need clear and accessible information for all citizens
07:26who absolutely want to choose their diet freely, as they tell us every day.
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, not without controversy.
Kommentare