Today, however, the Old Continent has taken a historic step by reaching an agreement to regulate New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). And it is no exaggeration to say so: this is one of the most significant legislative milestones for the future of European agriculture in recent decades.
As a journalist specialising in the fruit and vegetable sector, I welcome the maturity behind this decision. At last, plant biotechnology is no longer seen as a threat but recognised for what it truly is: an essential tool for the resilience, competitiveness and sustainability of European farming.
Extreme weather, the emergence of new pests and diseases, declining yields and the need to reduce plant protection products are challenges already on the desks of growers and breeders. NGTs make it possible to address them with speed, precision and scientific safety.
Thanks to techniques such as CRISPR, it is now possible to reduce susceptibility to fungi, develop resistant citrus varieties or create fruit crops tolerant to bacterial infections. This is not futuristic science, but real solutions that already exist in laboratories and that will now be able to reach the European market under a clear regulatory framework.
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Organisations such as ANOVE and Euroseeds emphasise that this regulation places Europe on the path towards genuine food sovereignty, supported by varieties that respond to the real needs of the field and consumers: more resilient, productive, nutritious and with better shelf life, also helping to reduce food waste.
Today, Europe not only regulates — it moves forward. And that is something worth celebrating in our sector.
Even so, it is advisable to maintain a degree of critical rigour. The text contains elements that will require study, cost evaluation and administrative planning.
