GM Archives - Agricultural and Rural Convention

EU Deal on GMO Deregulation: Hiding GMO Food While Claiming Patent Rights

December 16, 2025 Franziska Achterberg

On 4 December, EU negotiators reached an agreement to deregulate plants engineered with new genomic techniques. In this op-ed, Franziska Achterberg of Save Our Seeds argues that the deal dismantles key elements of EU GMO law for a broad category of genetically modified plants rebranded as “conventional-like” and granted patent rights. While the agreement still awaits final approval, Achterberg sets out why it should be rejected. […]

GMO-Free Seed Production Under Threat! Consequences of NGT deregulation on the ground

November 19, 2025 ARC

Without GMO-free seeds, a GMO-free agricultural and food industry is not possible. Yet there has been little discussion of the potential impact on GMO-free seed production of the European Commission’s planned deregulation of new genomic techniques (NGTs). Op-ed by Eva Gelinsky and Lena Hüttmann of IG Saatgut. […]

Op Ed | Big Ag Pushes Lawmakers to Roll Back Consumer Rights

May 7, 2025 Franziska Achterberg

In advance of the first trilogue meeting on “new genomic techniques” that took place this week, the industry launched a statement against GMO labelling. Only the Parliament, not the Council nor the Commission, want consumer labelling of new GM products. Op-ed by Franziska Achterberg, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Save Our Seeds. […]

EU Heads Towards Deregulation Of New GMO Technologies

March 18, 2025 Natasha Foote

EU countries have officially sealed their position on plans to loosen rules on the use of new genetic technologies, setting the ball rolling towards deregulation of new GMOs in the near future. But this isn’t the end of the story just yet. So what happens now? Natasha Foote brings you the latest from Brussels. […]

New vote could take new GMOs one step closer to EU fields and plates

March 10, 2025 Natasha Foote

EU countries are teetering on the brink of an agreement which would take new GMOs one step closer to our plates and several steps back from current protections governing the technology. What’s happening, what’s at stake, and what does that mean for next steps? Natasha Foote breaks it all down for you. […]

Poland backtracks on patents in efforts to push ahead with EU plans on new GMOs

February 11, 2025 Natasha Foote

A new proposal on the EU’s plans to loosen the rules on new genomic technologies has been tabled in efforts to break the impasse in negotiations between EU countries. But could this be enough to tip the balance? Natasha Foote brings you the latest. […]

Genetic Engineering and Generative AI: An Explosive Mix

February 4, 2025 Benedikt Haerlin

The field of plant biotechnology is undergoing a profound transformation. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is fundamentally reshaping the way genetic engineering is conducted. AI-driven genetic engineering may be vulnerable to well-known limitations of AI, such as the black box effect, hallucinations and data errors, raising concerns that plants with undesirable traits could be engineered and released into the environment. How should the EU respond? Benny Haerlin and Franziska Achterberg of Save our Seeds summarise findings of the organisation’s report When Chatbots Breed New Plant Varieties. […]

The Green Tripartite Agreement Locks in Industrial Ag and Biotech Solutionism

November 26, 2024 Franziska Achterberg

The Danish Green Tripartite could lock in the existing industrial farming system, based on the promises of questionable (bio)technologies. Denmark’s farming system needs a structural transformation and the use of GMOs should be tightly regulated to prevent further ecological damage. As it stands, this Agreement will do nothing to transform the farming sector in Denmark to a truly sustainable model. By June Rebekka Bresson (Noah, Denmark) and Franziska Achterberg (SOS, Germany). […]

Brussels – Who’s Got the Top Jobs and What Will They Do?

July 24, 2024 Natasha Foote

As the dust settles after the elections, what will the Commission focus on? Which politicians have secured the key roles? Who is at the helm in shaping agricultural and environmental policy over the next 5 years? News round up from Brussels by Natasha Foote. […]

Brussels News – GMO No-Gos and Political Roundabouts

June 27, 2024 Natasha Foote

This week saw an unsuccessful last-ditch attempt to push the EU’s proposal to loosen rules on gene editing over the finish line, leaving the plans on ice. Meanwhile, it’s all been Politics with a capital P as Belgium prepares to hand the presidency over to Hungary, while leaders jostle for Brussels’ top jobs and considerations start on redrawing the lines of the European Parliament’s committees – a shake up which could have big impacts on the way agriculture files are handled. Natasha Foote and Oliver Moore bring you the latest from Brussels. […]

What do Agroecological Farmers Think about Biotech?

June 6, 2024 ARC

A new report from A Bigger Conversation highlights the unique needs and perspectives – and values-based choices – of agroecological farmers when it comes to agricultural technologies. By Ayms Mason. Republished from A Bigger Conversation. […]

Monitoring, Case-by-Case Assessments Recommended for new GMOs by French Health & Safety Agency (ANSES)

March 7, 2024 Oliver Moore

“Given the technical, economic and social uncertainties identified in this report and the controversies raised by the development of NTG-derived plants, the Working Group recommends that a system be set up to monitor NTG plants and products derived from them…an assessment of the risks…should be carried out on a case-by-case basis”. […]

EU Food Safety Agency to Give New Opinion on New Genomic Techniques/New GMOs

March 5, 2024 ARC

The EU’s food safety agency will put together a new opinion on the categorisation of new genomic techniques – NGT’s – (also called new GMOs or gene editing) on the request of the European Parliament, following reports from multiple national agencies calling into question the scientific validity of the proposed criteria. […]

Parliament greenlights plans to loosen EU rules on new GMOs – but with key conditions

February 8, 2024 Natasha Foote

The European Parliament has given its blessing to the EU’s plan to loosen rules on new genetic technologies, but added key conditions on labelling requirements and a ban on patents – the latter of which could prove a key sticking point for moving forward with negotiations. Natasha Foote brings you up to speed on all you need to know. […]

Plan to Loosen EU Rules on Genetic Technologies Passes First Parliament Hurdle

January 25, 2024 Natasha Foote

The EU’s proposal to loosen the rules around the use of new genetic technologies in plant breeding has been greenlit by the European Parliament’s environment committee, meaning it is now on its way for a full Parliamentary vote in February. […]