Europe considers more flexible rules for gene engineering, organic sector concerned

• Leonie Young

  interior editor

Fruit or vegetables that have been genetically modified are hardly found in Europe, because strict rules apply. But that may soon come to an end.

Next week, the European Commission will examine the possibilities of relaxing the rules on genetic modification of agricultural crops. This has consequences for European consumers, who, according to various parties within the organic sector, can no longer see whether the food on their plate has been genetically modified.

Genetic modification (GMO) of agricultural crops involves making small changes to the DNA of plant species. The aim is to improve crops and make them more resistant to bacteria, fungi and pesticides, so that the burden on the environment is reduced.

Improving crops is not new. This has been done in the traditional way for decades with breeding, crossing crops. That is often a process of years.

Look here at the arguments of biodynamic farmer Lizzelore Vos and scientist John van der Oost about the use of GMO:

Proponents say that genetic techniques speed up the breeding process. One of them is John van der Oost, microbiologist at Wageningen University: “In this way, the advantages of DNA techniques can be used in the shorter term. Think of fewer pesticides, which is better for the environment and there is more yield because quality can be harvested, which in turn is good for food security.”

One of the genetic techniques is CRISPR-Cas. In the laboratory, a cut is made in the DNA of a crop in order to improve it. Five years ago, the European Court ruled that CRISPR-Cas falls under GMO legislation, which means that it is not possible to use this technique as a breeder or seed producer. If the legislation is amended, this may change.

Various organizations of organic farmers and shops are shocked that Europe is considering relaxing the rules. Merle Koomans, director of the Odin Foodcoop, is concerned. According to her, there is particular concern about the CRISPR-Cas technique: “If this passes, the question arises who will get hold of the very expensive rights and patents on the CRISPR-Cas technique and whether breeders will be hindered in their work by patents on plant properties. become.”

It worsens the position of the organic farmer, she says: “Multinationals that own seeds and breed them in their own way make farmers even more dependent on the seed purchase of the large seed breeders. And whether their promises are kept is only the question, there are no results to prove that yet. The risks in the longer term, including the accumulation effect of eating shredded vegetables or the effects in the ecosystem, are not yet known at all.”

In addition, the industry is concerned about whether producers are transparent about genetic engineering in crops. Michel Haring, professor of plant physiology at the University of Amsterdam, says that openness is complicated: “You demand companies to make their process public. That is not going to happen, because they are afraid that the general public will not want to buy CRISPR tomatoes. In England and Canada, where the technology is legally possible on the condition that it is stated on the products, do not yet have a concrete solution for an open registration. In practice, it will probably not be possible to make the process transparent in the necessary details.”

Haring believes that CRISPR-Cas as a technique should only be used to solve a crucial problem in a specific crop. “One must first investigate whether there really is no possibility to grow a crop sustainably, for example grapes or bananas. Because if new crops are used that are resistant to pesticides, the benefit for the environment is lost.”

There are already negative experiences with this, says Haring: “In Argentina, a monotonous landscape has arisen with impoverished soils, because more and more pesticides have to be used against the resistant weeds that have arisen in the fields with modified crops.”

Koomans has another concern. She wonders whether, as a consumer, you will still be able to opt for GMO-free food in the future if you cannot trace the origin. She especially wants to make a case for freedom of choice for farmers, shops and consumers.

Tomorrow the Biowinkelvereniging will have a cup of coffee with Minister Adema of Food Safety and from today there will be a petition online against the relaxation of the GMO rules.