Ivo Frébort: Legislative change regarding new genomic techniques is a major milestone for me
The European Parliament has approved new rules facilitating access to new plant varieties that are climate- and pest-resistant, produce higher yields, and require fewer pesticides. According to him, the decision will contribute to innovation in agriculture. Ivo Frébort of CATRIN, who had been advocating for the legislative change—including in his capacity as vice president of the European Federation of Biotechnology—closely followed the deliberations of European lawmakers.
How do you assess the decision? What does it mean to you personally?
Finally! I consider the decision a good compromise between the European Parliament’s original proposal and the demands of the member states in the EU Council. It provides clearer and more predictable rules for the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs) in plant breeding, without any major restrictive measures that would hinder their wider application.
For me personally, this is a pivotal milestone in an eight-year effort that began in 2018, when the EU Court of Justice ruled that plants created using NGT fall under GMO legislation. Since then, I have been actively involved in a wide range of initiatives—particularly through my work with the European Federation of Biotechnology, via expert studies, expert opinions, consultations for the European Commission, and meetings with Members of the European Parliament. I have also participated in expert seminars in Brussels and workshops held at the European Parliament. This makes me all the more pleased that we have now managed to achieve a meaningful breakthrough.
Do you think politicians listened to the experts?
Yes, I believe we succeeded in convincing the necessary majority of political representatives to listen to the scientific community. The decision reflects scientific findings on the safety and benefits of NGT and is based on rational arguments. At the same time, we’ve managed to limit the influence of certain interest groups whose positions are often based more on personal beliefs than on evidence-based data.
What exactly does this change entail?
A key element of the new legislation is the distinction between two categories of NGT plants. Annex I of the approved document defines plants whose genetic modifications are comparable to those that can arise naturally or through conventional breeding. These plants will not be regulated as GMOs and will be subject to a greatly simplified approval process for their widespread use, almost identical to that for conventional varieties. As a result, this brings European legislation closer—albeit still with certain limitations—to the reality of natural genetic changes and evolution. The second category of NGT plants, which contain more complex genetic changes, will continue to be subject to stricter rules; however, even this category enjoys a certain simplification and clarification of procedures.
Who will benefit most from these changes?
Benefits can be expected across the entire value chain. Breeders will gain a new tool that will significantly shorten the development of new varieties and reduce costs. For example, they will be able to specifically develop plants with higher resistance to diseases and pests even in cases where conventional breeding has failed.
Growers will have access to varieties that require less chemical protection and fertilization. At the same time, they can expect greater yield stability thanks to the plants’ improved adaptation to stress factors, including drought and extreme temperatures, which is in line with the goals of European strategies such as the Green Deal.
Consumers can look forward to crops with higher levels of vitamins and other beneficial substances, better taste, or longer shelf life. These characteristics are already appearing in products available outside the EU.
How will this change affect research? In general, but also at CATRIN?
I expect a significant revival of applied research in plant breeding. New findings in molecular genetics and genomics that have practical potential will be much easier to transfer from the laboratory to real-world applications. A key benefit will be the ability to test new lines directly under field conditions, which has been significantly limited in the EU until now. New genomic techniques will thus become a fully-fledged and commonly used tool in modern plant breeding.
At CATRIN, we have long been engaged in barley genome editing as part of the international BEST-CROP project consortium. The new rules will significantly facilitate international collaboration, reduce administrative barriers to the exchange of materials, and enable more efficient testing of new lines. At the same time, we can expect increased interest from breeding companies in the results of our research and their practical applications.