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
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