Genetic engineering techniques have significantly expanded the possibilities of plant breeding. At the same time, green genetic engineering is strictly regulated by law in Europe and has not yet gained much importance here. With the development of new molecular genetic tools, known as “gene scissors,” the question of potential, safety, and legal regulation arises once again. This is because these tools allow crops to be modified in a more targeted, cost-effective, and time-saving manner than with the breeding methods used to date.
Green Genetic Engineering - Plant Breeding with Genetic Scissors ▸
Genetic engineering techniques have considerably expanded plant breeding possibilities. However, in Europe, green genetic engineering is strictly regulated by law and has not yet gained considerable significance. With the development of new molecular genetic tools, known as “genetic scissors”, the question of potential, safety and legal regulation arises again. These tools can be used to modify crops in a more targeted, cost-efficient and time-saving way than the breeding methods previously used.
For thousands of years, people have striven to select crops for higher yields, resistance to pests, larger fruits or better taste. Modern molecular genetic techniques accelerate these breeding processes and broaden the spectrum. They can contribute to a more climate and environmentally friendly agriculture as well as secure and improve human nutrition.
How Safe is Green Genetic Engineering for the Environment and Human Health? ▸
Plants bred with the help of green genetic engineering must not pose any risks to the environment out in the fields and must be safe for human consumption. This is what the European regulations stipulate. For a science-based safety assessment, it all depends on the product. If the genetic modification can occur in the same way in nature or through conventional breeding, novel risks are not to be expected.
Modifying Plants Genetically – An Overview of Methods ▸
Humankind has always been inventive in its efforts to achieve better agricultural yields. It has already influenced the genetic material of cereals and other crops by selecting beneficial naturally occurring genetic modifications. Genetic engineering makes it possible to transfer hereditary characteristics in a targeted manner. Genome editing specifies and simplifies such applications.
The Legal Framework – and the Proposals for Amendment ▸
In Europe, strict rules apply to research, development and approval of genetically modified plants. When these legal rules were created, genome editing techniques were not yet relevant. The present regulatory system does not do justice to the fact that these techniques are more precise than conventional genetic engineering and make it possible to breed varieties that could also be created by natural mutations or conventional methods. Scientists, therefore, see an urgent need for reform.
Fact or Prejudice? Common Statements about Green Genetic Engineering put to the Test ▸
The majority of German citizens are sceptical about the use of genetic engineering methods in agriculture. This has been confirmed by surveys for many years. The situation is similar in other European countries. At the same time, opinion polls show that the vast majority of people know hardly anything about new methods such as genome editing.
