New genomic techniques for achieving food security: impacts on food safety and regulatory issues

Genomic techniques are any techniques that can alter the genetic material of an organism. The term ‘New genomic techniques’ includes all genomic techniques developed after adopting the legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in 2001 (Directive 2001/18/EC). They include targeted mutagenesis, cisgenesis, intragenesis, and transgenesis. At present, all NGTs fall into the GMO framework.

NGTs can be used in different ways with very different results depending on the goal, ranging from a single change to extensive modifications. Targeted mutagenesis techniques allow precise and predictable genomic mutations without inserting foreign genetic material. Among the methods that involve the insertion of genetic material, cisgenesis techniques use genetic material from an organism with which it could cross in nature i.e. all the genetic material available for conventional breeding; intragenesis techniques involve the insertion of a rearranged copy of genetic material present in the existing endogenous gene pool; and transgenesis techniques introduce genetic material from a non-crossable organism (sexually incompatible). Except for transgenesis techniques, NGTs can be seen as an advanced way of selective breeding, as they originate organisms that may not be differentiated from organisms bred with conventional breeding.

Due to this and after many years of hesitation, the European Commission published, in July 2023, a legislative proposal that contemplates the possibility of using such NTGs for plant breeding, differentiating these technologies from the ones that originate GMOs (defined in the Directive 2001/18/EC as ‘an organism, except for human beings, in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination’). In February 2024 members of the EU parliament voted in favor of the proposal, meaning that a regulatory framework for gene-edited plants that are indistinguishable from natural mutations or conventional breeding may soon be established.

This would be a significant technological advance as, without innovative techniques, agriculture will most likely not be able to achieve all the ambitious goals foreseen in the Farm to Fork Strategy. It will also not be able to guarantee sufficient affordable products for the growing world population. NGTs may be the key to meeting these requirements, but many technical and legislative barriers must be overcome.

With this research topic, we aim to obtain an overview of research and innovation in this area and contribute to informed decision-making and public acceptance of NGT products. This research topic welcomes submissions of research articles and reviews that cover the following areas/topics:

- Advances in plant breeding and genome editing using targeted mutagenesis, cisgenesis, and/or intragenesis
- Risk assessment of genetically-modified products
- Limitations, major concerns, and policy/regulatory implications of NGTs
- Challenges in food security and the role of NGTs
- Ethical aspects of NGTs
- Economic impacts involving these techniques

Alternative techniques to genetic transformation e.g. induction of RNAi through the application of dsRNAs are also welcome.