The moratorium banning the commercial cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Switzerland will expire at the end of 2025. Citing the impact of climate change on global food security, Professor Jean-David Rochaix is calling for a green light for new genomic techniques (NGT), at a time when a popular initiative is fighting their approval.
A major challenge for the 21st century will be to feed a growing world population with sustainable agriculture under several constraints: climate changes such as rising temperatures, drought, water shortages, the decline in arable land, the loss of 75% of agricultural biodiversity over the last fifty years and the emergence of new diseases. In short, we will have to produce more with fewer resources.
To achieve this goal, it is essential to use all possible means, including [new genomic techniques (NGT)]…. While NTG will not solve all the problems related to feeding the world’s population, it is a very powerful tool. If used intelligently, responsibly, and prudently, it is an asset that would be regrettable to deprive ourselves of.
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