Based on the strong belief that there is no single pathway to sustainability in agriculture, new genomic techniques (NGTs) – specifically targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis techniques – constitute one of the tools that could not only support farmers in their contribution to the transition, but also benefit society as a whole.
The droughts of 2022 and previous years, the higher frequency and intensity of adverse weather events, and the overall uncertainty for farmers as the climate crisis worsens all call for tools that would benefit the environment and bolster the socio-economic resilience of farms. NGTs could support farmers in their environmental action, by improving nitrogen efficiency, reducing the sector’s carbon footprint and producing plants that require less water, fertilisers and plant protection products.
From a regulatory point of view, a first step would be to provide a clear definition of NGTs, to clarify the scope of the new legislation and to ensure that every stakeholder is on the same page. Young farmers favour a new legal framework, separate from the 20-year-old framework for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), allowing for a more precise regulation of targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis techniques.
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