On 24 January the European Parliament’s environment committee is due to vote on whether or not the EU should relax restrictive regulation which is holding back the use of so-called ‘new genomic techniques’ (NGTs) in Europe. The European Commission has proposed a new system to allow scientists to continue progress on crop breeding using Crispr and other NGTs without falling foul of existing higly restrictive GMO regulations.
In October last year the Breakthrough Institute and the Alliance for Science released a report warning that a de-facto ban on precision gene editing in Europe could have economic costs totalling over 3 trillion euros over the next decade. The new open letter argues that the use of Crispr in plant breeding has the potential to dramatically reduce pesticide and fertiliser use in agriculture while increasing food security through the creation of climate-resilient plant varieties.
The letter is signed by the co-inventors of the Crispr technology, biochemist Emmanuelle Charpentier and microbiologist Jennifer Doudna, who shared the 2020 Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering work. Alongside other signatories including world-renowned authors Steven Pinker and Peter Singer they write: “NGTs hold immense promise for sustainable agriculture, enhanced food security and innovative medical solutions. We therefore encourage you to engage with the overwhelming majority of farmers and genuine experts, not with reactive anti-science lobbyists in the Brussels bubble. We implore you to vote in favour of NGTs.”
The signatories point out that “conventional breeding for climate resilient crops (with cross-breeding of certain traits, subsequent selection and then backcrossing to remove undesirable traits) is too time-consuming. It takes years, decades even. We do not have this time in an era of climate emergency. This is why fast, targeted and favorable breeding methods need to be added to the plant breeder’s toolbox. The responsible use of NGTs that the legislation could unlock may contribute significantly to our collective pursuit of a more resilient, environmentally conscious, and food-secure future.”
The open letter was organised by WePlanet, an environmental non-profit network that campaigns to defend science around the world to help combat climate change and end poverty. Dr Hidde Boersma, the Dutch microbiologist who coordinated the letter with WePlanet, says: “The NGTs vote is a huge moment for the European Parliament. Will they embrace rationality and optimism, or cave into the anti-science fearmongering of an ill-informed minority? Now, more than ever, it’s time to embrace the optimism that Europe’s young scientists and farmers represent.”
All eyes are now on the ENVI committee vote scheduled for 24 January. If the committee passes the proposal, this is expected to be followed on 5 February by a plenary vote in the Strasbourg Parliament. Tens of activists from the international WePlanet network – including young scientists and farmers – are expected to demonstrate outside the parliament building that day in favour of NGTs.
The open letter is open to further signatures from scientists, researchers and other relevant stakeholders. More than 1,000 have already signed, and the link to add your signature is here.
Open letter: 35 Nobel Laureates and over 1,000 Scientists call on MEPs to support New Genomic Techniques
Dear Members of the European Parliament,
In these times of climate crisis, biodiversity loss and renewed food insecurity, a scientific and evidence-based approach is essential in every respect. Now more than ever, we must rise above ideology and dogmatism. That is why we the undersigned turn to you and urge you to carefully consider the benefits of embracing New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) in your upcoming parliamentary decisions.
As concerned citizens who believe in the power of science to improve our lives and our relationship with the planet, we implore you to vote in favour of NGTs, aligning your decisions with the advancements in scientific understanding. Conventional breeding for climate resilient crops (with cross-breeding of certain traits, subsequent selection and then backcrossing to remove undesirable traits) is too time-consuming. It takes years, decades even. We do not have this time in an era of climate emergency.
There are also many plants which, due to their specific genetic characteristics, are very difficult to breed by conventional means, such as fruit trees, grape vines or potatoes. And these crops just happen to require most of the harmful pesticides used in the European Union to protect against pests and diseases. But just as with climate resilience, NGTs can dramatically improve this situation. NGTs help to make crop plants resilient to disease by precise and targeted edits to their genetic code thus making our ambitious and vital goals of pesticide reduction possible while still protecting farmers’ yields. It is, as a result, no surprise that many of Europe’s hard working farmers – including a growing number of organic producers – are enthusiastic supporters of NGTs.
This is why fast, targeted and favorable breeding methods need to be added to the plant breeder’s toolbox. The draft law on the regulation of NGT plants is therefore an important step that we support in view of our mission of enhancing environmental sustainability in food, farming and energy. The responsible use of NGTs that the legislation could unlock may contribute significantly to our collective pursuit of a more resilient, environmentally conscious, and food-secure future.
NGTs hold immense promise for sustainable agriculture, enhanced food security, and innovative medical solutions. But the opportunities could also be seen in new jobs and greater economic prosperity. A recent report showed that failure to allow NGTs could cost the European economy 300 billion euros annually in ‘benefits foregone’ across multiple sectors. This is the cost of saying ‘no’ to scientific progress.
We the undersigned therefore encourage you to engage with the overwhelming majority of farmers and genuine experts, not with reactive anti-science lobbyists in the Brussels bubble. We ask you to consider the unequivocable body of scientific evidence supporting NGTs, and make decisions that align with the European Union’s and its citizens’ best interests. Your support for NGTs will not only foster innovation but also position the EU as a leader in responsible and evidence-based policymaking around the world. Leaders in Africa for example are watching closely what you decide, as are African scientists who have NGT climate resilient cassava, banana, maize and other staple crops ready to go.
We appreciate your attention to this matter and trust that, with your support, the EU Parliament can reject the darkness of anti-science fear mongering and look instead towards the light of prosperity and progress.
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Mark Lynas is a climate change author and campaigner. He is an advisor to the former President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed. He is the research and climate lead with the Alliance for Science, where he has co-authore peer-reviewed papers on vaccines, climate, and GMOs focusing on scientific consensus and misinformation. Find Mark on X @mark_lynas
A version of this article was originally posted at the Alliance for Science and is reposted here with permission. Any reposting should credit both the GLP and original article. The Alliance for Science can be found on X @ScienceAlly
