What are new GMOs and what’s at risk? Watch our new video

In July 2023, the European Commissions published its legislative proposal on “New Genomic Techniques”. We have the pleasure to announce the release of a video on new Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and so called “New Genomic Techniques” (NGTs). In our 3:30 minutes video, we explain what GMOs and new GMOs are. We also explain why it is important to regulate all these techniques at the EU level with the current legal framework as the baseline, following strict provisions on risk assessment, consumer labelling, and supply chain traceability.

The full video, as well as shorter video snippets, are available on IFOAM Organics Europe’s YouTube channel. A version with German subtitles has been made available by our member organisation Bioland.

Do you want to translate the subtitles in your own language? Contact [email protected] and [email protected].

Our past & future work on this topic

We will continue communicating on this legislative proposal and its impact on the organic sector. We remain committed to diligently advocating for the interests of our members and the organic sector and movement, ensuring the core values of the organic sector are protected and safeguarded in all discussions.

For more information on GMOs and new GMOs and IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on this issue, please consult the section on GMOs on our website or reach out to [email protected]. Do note that we prioritise our members’ requests.

IFOAM Organics Europe members can find more information on the member extranet and background materials in the arguments database on the member extranet (main messages, arguments/FAQs, visuals & videos). Contact [email protected] for access rights (issues).

For information about what you can gain from being a member, read our membership page and contact [email protected].

Summary of our video on new GMOs

The EU’s food system is broken, with industrial agricultural practices dominating food supply chains. But with many failed promises and disastrous environmental consequences, producers continue to rely heavily on the use of dominant seed varieties, increased synthetic fertilisers and pesticides use. The latest technological fix are the promises of genetically modified seeds, which fit well into these high-input systems. 

Traditionally, farmers and plant breeders got new varieties for seed production by crossing and selecting plants with desired characteristics. Over the years, science on breeding has developed, creating new techniques to modify DNA, such as CRISPR and Cas9, which do not necessitate the insertion of foreign genes. These technologies have proven to be very useful for researchers, especially for basic research and in medical domain. 

However, these so called “New Genomic Techniques” are quite new and its consequences for human and ecological health are not sufficiently researched yet. So, the precautionary principle and high biosafety standards, enshrined in the current GMO legislation, should continue to apply to NGTs.

We are at a crossroads now, having to choose what kind of system we want for the future. One that takes a holistic approach to ensure sustainability, or one that uses technological fixes with false promises while continuing with business-as-usual.

The organic movement calls for a system approach in which prevention is better than quick fixes like NGTs, which are a distraction from the real solutions needed. It’s crucial to keep the current legal framework for GMOs as a baseline for dealing with new techniques and ensure their risk assessment, traceability for producers and farmers, as well as a clear labelling scheme for consumers.