“One major advantage of using genetic editing is the ability to make extremely precise changes to individual genes—faster and more effectively than traditional breeding methods, which often require many generations before a desirable trait becomes established. If organic agriculture is to play a key role in EU agricultural policy, we must also consider innovative approaches,” says Alexandra Molitorisová, doctoral researcher at the Chair of Food Law at the University of Bayreuth and lead author of the study.
The EU provides strong support for organic production across its policies. However, the lower yields typically associated with organic farming present a challenge for sustainable food production: more land and resources are needed per unit of food produced. The use of new genomic techniques (NGTs), such as the CRISPR-Cas9 “genetic scissors”, in organic farming could help increase yields. These modern molecular biology tools can be used to precisely alter plant DNA, for example, to make crops more resistant to drought, pests or disease. Such traits are particularly relevant for organic farming, where chemical crop protection is largely prohibited. At present, however, the use of NGTs is banned in EU organic farming.
Under a recent legislative proposal by the European Commission, NGT crops may be subject to differentiated regulation in the future: some would no longer be treated like genetically modified organisms (GMOs) but like conventionally bred plants (NGT-1), while for others the current GMO regulatory requirements would ease (NGT-2). Nonetheless, even under this new proposal, genetically edited plants would still not be permitted in organic farming, as the European Commission views them as incompatible with current definitions of organic agriculture and with consumer expectations of organic products.
The researchers led by Prof. Dr. Kai Purnhagen, Chair of Food Law at the University of Bayreuth, argue in favour of allowing NGTs in organic agriculture. To ensure transparency, also in light of the problems with the identification of NGTs, and choice for organic community, they propose the introduction of two EU-wide organic standards: one for “organic without NGTs” and one for “organic with NGTs”. The authors point out that plant traits required for organic farming can also be achieved using NGTs. According to the EU Organic Production Regulation, preference is given to varieties bred under organic conditions that exhibit high genetic diversity—meaning many different gene variants from which to select. The researchers argue that NGTs can deliver exactly this: when the function of a gene is known, new genetic variants can be created through genome editing to enrich the gene pool used in breeding.
Ultimately, the researchers say that the decision to allow NGTs in organic farming should be made by the organic farming and consumer communities—for example by way of citizen’s juries or food councils. “Organic consumers care about the environment and sustainability. For organic farmers, accepting this technology is a way to speak to those consumers,” adds Purnhagen.
