Today, the European Parliament endorsed its position for negotiations with member states on the Commission proposal on New Genomic Techniques referred to as NGTs. Yesterday, Ursula von der Leyen announced the withdrawal of a contentious law that aimed to reduce the use of pesticides across the European Union.

Today, the European Parliament’s Environmental Committee voted in favour of a proposal to introduce a new regulatory framework for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). This move signifies a significant advancement in fostering plant breeding innovation for a sustainable EU agriculture and food system.

In July, the European Commission proposed loosening rules on specific gene editing techniques aimed at enhancing crop performance sustainably. Despite being on the verge of an agreement, the EU Council, today, in its final 2023 meeting, couldn't secure enough support for the proposal. Spain's Presidency, led by Luis Planas, faced opposition from countries like Austria, Poland, and Hungary, while Bulgaria and Germany abstained.

The European Commission proposed revising its rules on genetically modified organisms today to loosen some restrictions for plants resulting from newer gene-editing technology.

Similar to the approach taken by the USDA, the EPA announced last week that it will now exempt gene-edited plants from an extensive review process if the modifications could have been achieved through conventional breeding methods. But unlike USDA, the EPA still requires applicants who developed a crop with increased pest- and/or disease resistance, to provide data demonstrating that the changes do not increase pesticide levels beyond those found in conventional crops.

Yesterday, the Canadian government announced how they will handle crop cultivars that contain gene-editing as part of the breeding process. These guidelines are the result of an extensive consultation process that began in 2021.

Last week, UK’s Precision Breeding Act passed into law. The new act allows for the use of gene editing in crops, provided that the genetic changes could also have been produced naturally or through traditional crossbreeding programs already in use today. As many of my colleagues will point out, we are not really building a completely “new stage”, as trait development and breeding has successfully led to the development of novel varieties with enhanced yield and improved biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. However, it is not just old wine in a new bottle. Gene editing will be unlocking new possibilities to further add more impactful traits to our food and feed production system.

Is climate smart and resilient agriculture possible without adapted wheat varieties? The short answer to this question is “no”. Many farmers, scientists and breeders believe that breeding and trait development innovations in wheat will be essential to improve crop yields, boosting resiliency against pests, disease and weather extremes. Besides, adapted varieties in combination with improved regenerative practices, can further reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change.

Last week, the Swiss Parliament decided that gene edited plants that are bred with no new transgenic genetic material inserted, should no longer be considered and labeled as conventional genetically modified plants. By 2024, the Swiss Federal Council will have to propose a bill allowing certain gene edited seeds to be drilled in Swiss field.

The Indian ministry of Environment and Forest in an order issued yesterday exempted SDN1 and SDN2 genome edited plants from Rules 7-11 of the Environment Protect Act (EPA) for manufacture, use or import or export and storage of hazardous microorganisms or genetically engineered organisms or cells rules-1989.

An international research team, led by KeyGene’s banana breeder and Fusarium wilt expert Fernando Garcia-Bastidas, who has selected plant materials with resistance to Fusarium Tropical Race 4, also known as Panama disease.

Last week England’s Lords approved gene editing. This change will make it easier to conduct field trial research involving plants produced by new genetic technologies, such as gene editing.

Yesterday, the European Commission published a new study concluding that the current legal framework governing gene editing is insufficient and indicated that new policy instruments should be considered to reap the benefits of this technology.

GROW is the brainchild of Daan Roosegaarde, an artist who merges art and tech in urban environments. Developed with partners Wageningen University and Rabobank, this stunning project trials its vertical ‘light recipe’ across an enormous field of leek at Lelystad in the Netherlands.

This is how my garden looks like this morning during our annual easter egg hunt. Belgian chocolate and a smart temperature and soil moisture sensor that is part of “CurieuzeNeuzen” one of the biggest ever citizen science research project on heat and drought and also the name for ‘nosy’ people in the local Flemish dialect.

A team of international scientists discovered a whitefly species, that has incorporated plant DNA into its genome to protect it from leaf toxins.

What you always wanted to know but never dared to ask an investor. Although successful tech startups might make headlines, their venture investors often remain in the background, shrouded in mystery. This month, HBR published what is perhaps the most comprehensive survey of VC firms to date and shared some very interesting findings.

As we enter a new decade, where new technologies such as gene editing are brought to the market, I believe it is important to look back and learn from the past, including successful and less successful introductions of genetically modified vegetable and fruits.

SeCan, a consortium of Canadian breeders, yesterday announced a $737,597 cash settlement of a Plant Breeders' Rights case, one ofthe largest settlement to date.

This an interesting updated ISAAA map showing where biotech crops are planted, led by the top five countries USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and India.