ALLEA Welcomes Provisional EU Agreement on New Genomic Techniques

ALLEA welcomes the provisional agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the regulation of plants obtained through New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The agreement provides a more up-to-date and differentiated framework that reflects scientific advancements in the field and offers clearer conditions for research and innovation in Europe.

This development closely reflects to ALLEA’s long-standing work and positions on sustainable agriculture and food systems, where we have emphasised the importance of evidence-based policymaking and the need to support more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. New genomic techniques may contribute to these aims by enabling the development of plant characteristics that help reduce environmental pressures or support adaptation to changing climatic conditions.

In our publications on genome editing, ALLEA has highlighted both the scientific potential of these techniques and the need for clarity, proportionate regulation, and transparency, including in relation to intellectual-property aspects. The new framework’s distinction between different categories of NGT plants, as well as its provisions for greater clarity around IP issues, reflect several of these considerations.

As the agreement moves towards formal adoption, ALLEA will continue to follow the process and contribute scientific perspectives to ongoing discussions on how new genomic techniques may support the transition to more sustainable agriculture and food systems in Europe.